Less than a year after former Bidvest Wits midfielder Papy Faty collapsed on the field and died in Swaziland, a professional player in Nigeria sadly passed away after suffering a similar fate on the weekend.
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Chineme Martins collapsed during a game of his club Nasarawa United on Sunday, falling unconscious unopposed in the second half of his side's league match against Katsina United.
"The player was attended to by medics of the two clubs... and was later rushed to Dalhatu-Araf Specialist Hospital in Lafia, where he was later pronounced dead," the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) said in a statement.
The reason for his untimely death remains unknown, and an autopsy will be carried out, the NPFL has confirmed.
According to BBC Sport, eyewitnesses said there was a delay in Martins' transport to hospital due to issues with the ambulance on the scene, and Nigeria's sports minister, Sunday Dare, described his death as "regrettably avoidable" and said the "ministry will immediately work with the NPFL to roll out mandatory conditions before any match is played".
The Nigerian Football Federation has since responded by stating that league matches should be halted unless there is a full complement of medical equipment and personnel at the stadia.
The NFF has in conjunction with the Ministry of Sports engaged the LMC and reviewed the situation. As an immediate first step, the NFF has directed that no further match be played except there is a full complement...
— The NFF ???? (@thenff) March 9, 2020
...of the medical equipment and personnel as provided in the NFF Club Licensing Regulations.
— The NFF ???? (@thenff) March 9, 2020
All Match Commissioners and the host FA are to ensure they inspect all the facilities including carrying out test runs before giving go-ahead for any match to be played.
We, at Soccer Laduma, send our condolences Chineme Martins' family and friends.
