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In the northwest London area of South Ruislip, the community is grappling with the loss of two close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele. The two men were involved in a fatal road accident near Lagos, Nigeria, on 29 December, when the vehicle they were traveling in alongside heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua and another passenger collided with a truck. Ghami and Ayodele were childhood companions of Joshua and integral members of his team; Ayodele served as Joshua’s personal trainer, while Ghami worked as his rehabilitation coach.
Walid Bouzaghar, who was mentored by Ayodele, highlighted the humility that characterized the group surrounding Joshua. He said, “Sina, Latif, A.J and his team were the epitome of humble.” Despite their association with a prominent sports figure, the men remained down-to-earth and approachable. Bouzaghar emphasized that Latif Ayodele’s personality shone both outwardly and inwardly, inspiring many with his kindness. “His character was always about spreading love, positivity and faith to those around him,” he added.
Ayodele’s deep Islamic faith played a vital role in his life, guiding his commitment to supporting the London communities around him. Bouzaghar recounted Latif’s words: “Never hold a grudge, you don’t know someone else’s story. You deal with people in compassion, and you always resolve issues with your brothers and sisters.” This outlook helped Bouzaghar during difficult times, and their bond extended beyond friendship, with shared travels to Morocco that solidified their close connection. Ayodele was more than a friend; as Bouzaghar put it, “he was family.”
Sina Ghami’s influence was strongly felt in the gym community, particularly at the two gyms he ran in South Ruislip and Colindale. Arthur Pologar, a personal trainer who works at Evolve Gym in South Ruislip, described his disbelief upon hearing the news of the accident while in Hungary. “I was back home for Christmas with my family when I got the call. I was like, ‘nah it’s not real’. I called his number straight away. No answer,” Pologar recalled. Born in Iran and having relocated to the UK at age ten, Ghami was an inspirational figure, particularly to those who shared similar immigrant experiences. Pologar reflected, “He’s inspirational because I can relate to him. Coming here as a foreigner and actually making it in life, that’s a big inspiration for me.”
The gym community has struggled with the absence of Ghami, with regular gym user Rhys Verley expressing how different it feels without him. “It feels really weird that he’s no longer here,” Verley said. “There’s definitely a void that’s been created. Everyone is trying to continue as best as they can. He was such a kind man. Always giving people like me advice.” The meanings of their names — Sina meaning wisdom in Persian and Latif translating to kindness in Arabic — were reflected in the legacies they left behind. Friends agree that these qualities defined the two men and continue to resonate within the communities they touched
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