by Isi Esene
In a tragic outing, a Nigerian football player based in Romania, Henry Chinonso Ihelewere, today slumped and died while playing in a friendly match between second division side CS Delta Tulcea and FC Balotesti.
Local television stations say he likely died of cardiac arrest. The 21-yeaar-old player died just 15 minutes after coming in as a second half substitute. He reportedly fell without any other player coming in contact with him.
In his reaction to the sad incident, Ihelewere’s coach, Cristian Dulca said, “What can I say? We’re all shocked. It’s a tragic day for Romanian football.
“I trained him for a year and a half and I can tell you he was a real example in training. He could’ve become a very good player.”
The player was rushed to the hospital after he slumped but never regained consciousness.
He joined the Romanian league five years ago when he started playing for a club called Farul Constanta.
Other African players who have suffered a similar fate are Nigeria’s Samuel Okwaraji, who died while playing a qualifying match against Angola in Lagos; Marc-Vivien Foe, the Cameroonian who also died during an international match in France, and Bolton’s Fabrice Muamba who remarkably survived after being effectively dead for 78 minutes.
thats so sad. they should suspend the next round of matches like serie A did for that guy that died. may he RIP .