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Louis van Gaal Shares Health Update, Reflects on Life with Prostate Cancer
Former Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has provided an update on his health two years after revealing his battle with aggressive prostate cancer.
Following the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the 72-year-old Dutchman stepped down from his third stint as the Netherlands’ boss to focus on his treatment, which involves radiation therapy and the use of a urine bag.
Van Gaal is currently filming a documentary titled “Always Positive” alongside Maria Blasco, director of the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, to support oncological research.
In an interview with Spanish outlet AS, he discussed his coping mechanisms, treatment updates, and his family’s history with death.
Reflecting on how cancer has impacted his outlook on life, Van Gaal said, “Not much, really. My father died when I was 11 years old at 53, my first wife passed away at 39, and all my brothers died too soon. I’m used to death, and I know it’s a part of life.”
He shared his initial reaction to the diagnosis, “When I first heard I had cancer, I said, ‘Okay, it’s not good news, but I better try to do something about it.’ Each human can react differently. That’s why I say: ‘Be yourself.’”
Van Gaal, who managed Manchester United from 2014 to 2016 and won the FA Cup in his final season, took a five-year break before returning to manage the Netherlands in 2021. Despite his health challenges, he appeared in good spirits while managing his team.
“I have always looked very young; that’s why my appearance is good,” he joked. “My mother had her face like a flower until the end, and I have the same luck.
I’ve been living with the disease for over three years, undergoing radiation, hormone injections, operations, and using catheters and urine bags. It’s unbelievable, but I can handle it.
I managed it even better during the World Cup because I had a goal. Having a goal has been positive for me in dealing with cancer, just like coaching.”
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has paid tribute to late Nigerian actor Olu Jacobs, recalling his contributions to the creative industry and his impact on Nigeria’s cultural identity.
In his tribute, Tinubu described Jacobs as a giant of the Nigerian creative industry and said “He was a giant of the Nigerian creative industry. His passing is a great loss to Nigeria, the African film industry and the global community of lovers of the performing arts. His remarkable body of work will continue to speak to generations yet unborn.
“The nation recognises the enormous contributions of Nigeria’s creative practitioners to the country’s cultural identity, global image and economic development. Olu Jacobs played a big role in creating this identity.”
Human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency over the proliferation of counterfeit and substandard drugs and consumer products in Nigeria.
Adeyanju also called for the removal of the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, as well as the heads of other regulatory agencies, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).
“Nigerians are being exposed to dangerous products daily, from fake and substandard medicines to unsafe consumer goods, with reports of drugs being sold wholesale in the open under the hot sun. No responsible government should expose its citizens to such risks and expect mortality rates not to rise.”
Adeyanju also called out NAFDAC over what he described as failures in regulating the circulation of counterfeit and substandard products in the country.
It can be noted that various counterfeit products continue to circulate in Nigerian markets, while NAFDAC has also reported seizures and destruction of counterfeit, expired and substandard products.
Lagosians have lamented heavy traffic caused by ongoing construction work at Kara Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The Federal Government announced that repairs on the damaged expansion joints at Kara Bridge would begin on September 8, 2026. The project, initially scheduled to begin in August, was delayed to allow further traffic management planning due to concerns over its impact on motorists.
Since work began, traffic around the Kara area has become heavy, with Lagosians sharing updates on social media about spending two hours or more on the road.
Some commuters say the delays have made their 9-to-5 routines difficult, with several hours spent travelling to and from work.
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