The coach of Ilesa West Football Club, Adewale Awe, has narrated how a player of the team, Adeyemi Adewale, slumped a few minutes to the end of the match and died almost immediately while participating in a football tournament in Osogbo, Osun State.

Adewale died on Thursday, according to Osun Police Command’s spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola.

Opalola, in a statement, said, “While the Adeleke Memorial Cup Final match was going on at Ataoja School of Science, one Adeyemi Adewale ‘M’ 29yrs, a player of Ilesa West Football team, slumped on the pitch. He was rushed to Osun Osun State University Teaching Hospital, where he was later confirmed dead by a doctor.”

Speaking exclusively to Saturday PUNCH, Adewale, who witnessed the incident, said the deceased never showed sign of any ailment before the match.

The coach also said Adewale planned to celebrate his birthday with his teammates after the match, adding that his attention was drawn to him shortly after he slumped on the field.

He said, “Thursday was his birthday and we had decided that after playing the match, we will return home to celebrate it.

“He ate on our way to Osogbo. When we got to the field, we dressed up and went in for the game. He was part of the team and he didn’t complain of sickness. First half ended and we went on break.

“We started the second half and about five minutes to the end of the second half, we got a free-kick, but the opposing coach was telling one of his players that a player had fallen down on the pitch. The opposing player rushed to him and others also did. We called for an ambulance, and the medical personnel tried to resuscitate him. Before we got to the hospital, he had given up.”

Meanwhile, the Chairman, Organizing Committee of the late Otunba Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke Memorial Cup, Oladele Bamiji, has expressed sadness over the unfortunate incident.

Bamiji, in a statement obtained in Osogbo on Friday, said, “All efforts to rescue Adewale Adeyemi after he suddenly slumped on the pitch, at about 84th minute of the 3rd place match between Ilesa West Local Government and Ejigbo Local Government football teams, proved abortive.

He condoled the immediate and extended families of the deceased, saying the memories of the late footballer would continue to linger for his contributions to unity and sports development in the state. (Saturday PUNCH)