Chineme Martins
The League Management Company (LMC) has confirmed the death of the Chineme Martins Nasarawa United FC defender. The incident occurred yesterday during the NPFL home game against Katsina United in Lafia. The NPFL Matchday 23 game had the home team leading with three goals up before the incident occurred.
Nasarawa United the opener in the first 53 minutes of the game curtsey of Chinedu Ohanachom, the attacker doubled the lead in the 61 minutes before completing his hat-trick two minutes before the end of the game. A game which was to give the 13th place Nasarawa United FC joy in tears as Chineme Martins slumped in the pitch.
He was rushed to Dalhatu- Araf Specialist Hospital in Lafia where he was later confirmed dead. Shehu Dikko who is the Chairman of League Management Company announces the death of the player pray for his soul to rest in peace. In his words he said: “We commiserate with Nasarawa United and the immediate family of the late player.”
The LMC expects that there would be a standard autopsy to establish the cause of the player’s death. “It is hoped that the findings of the autopsy would inform subsequent measures, if any that has not been addressed by the existing standard procedure”, the LMC stated.
A source said that Chineme Martins was alone with no pressure of any sort they could see when he slumped. Although medics rushed to the place of occurrence, the ambulance awhich was to be used to take him to the hospital refused to start so they used the governor’s press crew bus to take him to the nearest hospital.
Chineme Martins has played for FC Abuja, Gabros, and FC Ifeanyi Ubah before joining Nasarawa United. The only time similar issued happened to a Nigerian was in 1992 when Samuel Okwaraji slumped and died during a World Cup qualifier game against Angola. This is a second death of NPFL player, last week Saturday Tiyamiyu Kazeem was killed by SARS operative.