The local sports community was in mourning yesterday as two former well-known sports personalities, ASC and Sliema Wanderers former president Edwin Meli and former boxer Philip Xuereb, known as Lippu l-boxer, passed away yesterday.

Edwin Meli served as president of waterpolo team Sliema ASC for around 36 years. He served the club initially as a goalkeeper between 1946 and 1952 and then serving as president between 1956 and 1992. Since then, he was appointed honorary president. Mr Meli was also president of the Sliema Wanderers football club between 1955 and 1959 and again in 1961 and 1962.