The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) has come down hot on teams that play in the local professional league after the death of Chieneme Martins, a defender with Nasarawa United who slumped and died while playing for his team on Sunday.
The player slumped and died while an NPFL league match was ongoing on Sunday.
He was said to have died as a result of the absence of qualified paramedics on the pitch while a professional league match was being played.
A video which circulated on social media showed that all efforts were made to revive the player when he slumped during play.
All efforts however proved abortive as the ambulance assigned to the game was non-functional.
The video showed fellow players and staff of the stadium struggling to make the vehicle start without success.
The late player was eventually conveyed in a bus belonging to the staff of the Nassarawa press crew.
Players and stadium staff were seen pushing the vehicle to kick-start it before a bus of the Nasarawa state governor’s press crew was used to convey the remains of the deceased to a hospital.
According to reports gathered by the Herald, the Management of the NPFL met with Stakeholders within Nigerian football and came to a decision to ensure that qualified paramedics are present at every NPFL match.
“In meetings and several phone calls last night and this morning initiated by the minister of sports with NFF a decision might have been reached that from next Sunday, no league match will be played without paramedics.” The Sports body said.
The victory of Nassarawa United Players over the Kaduna side was tarnished by the death of the defender as players and coach of the club burst into tears after the Final Whistle.
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