Fans want NPFL scrapped as player slumps, dies during league match

By Kennedy Pwaspo.

Reactions have continued to trail the death of Chineme Martins, a defender with Nasarawa United FC, who slumped on the pitch during the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Matchday 23 encounter against Katsina United in Lafia on Sunday.

The player was reported to have collapsed on the turf moments after his team took the lead against the visitors, and was attended to by medics who made efforts to resuscitate him.

He was, however, pronounced dead at the Dalhatu- Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia, where he was later rushed to.

Reacting, some footfall fans on Twitter have called for an outright scrapping of the league for failing to meet up to acceptable standards.

See tweets below:

How can we call this @LMCNPFL a professional league….when things are not done professionally?

Who curse us like this… pic.twitter.com/AaSP7Ll14J

— Kelechi 'cane da guardia' Nkoro (@K1Says) March 8, 2020

@LMCNPFL Sad day for the NPFL and Nigerian. Martins slumped & the ambulance had to be pushed for more than 75% the length of the pitch. Mind you, this was no real ambulance, it just a utility vehicle with a siren on top of it. This all happened in front of the Governor of Nas st.

— Shola Ogunyemi (@sholly555) March 8, 2020

SAD DAY 😞😭!!

– Chieme Martins of Nassarawa United has died after a collision with a Katsina Utd player earlier today in the NPFL.
– Nassarawa United Players Crying 😭!
– Player was rushed to the hospital and died there.pic.twitter.com/fPaCp0ysIv

— Laba Laba Master 🦋🦋🦋 (@Buchi_Laba) March 8, 2020

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the League Management Company (LMC), Mr Shehu Dikko has ordered for an autopsy to establish the cause of the player’s death.

Dikko, while commiserating with Nasarawa United and the immediate family of the late player, said: “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.

“Furthermore, the LMC will keep engaging the club and the player’s immediate family to find the best way possible to offer support in this sad moment for the family and the Nigeria football family at large.”