Heartland coach confirms dead as players injured in Imo accident

Heartland FC coach Christian Obi has been confirmed dead, while many players were injured in an accident at Okwelle in Onuimo Local Government Area of Imo State.

Obi’s demise was announced in a statement issued by the club’s media officer, Tunde Liadi, on Saturday.

Liadi stated that the accident occurred at about 4 p.m. on Friday, August 23.

He noted that the accident occurred when the team’s Coaster bus collided with a stationary truck while trying to avoid a head-on collision with an oncoming vehicle.

He added that there were about 20 members of the team in the bus, saying some players sustained various degrees of injuries.

The Heartland spokesman further stated that the team were on their way for the TICO/SELECT Ifeanyi Ekwueme Preseason Tournament taking place in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, when the accident occurred.

According to Liadi, the driver tried his best to avert the accident but the impact of the collision caused a sudden shock to the coach.

He disclosed that the coach was unconscious, with a slight injury on his right leg, when he was taken out of the damaged bus.

Liadi added that Obi and other injured players were immediately rushed to a nearby private hospital for medical treatment.

The Heartland spokesperson noted that the coach later died when the medical team were making frantic efforts to resuscitate him.

He said: “The heartbreaking day saw the Heartland FC team departing the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri for the pre-season tournament with enthusiasm at around 3:30 p.m. in three vehicles.

“At about some minutes past 4 p.m., one of the vehicles rammed into a carelessly parked truck, while attempting to avoid an oncoming vehicle.

“Words alone cannot fully capture how the news of his death has thrown everyone at the club into deep mourning because of how precious he was to the club.

“His name would continue to remain etched in the history of the club, following the club’s unbeaten run in the Nigeria National League throughout the 2022-23 season, a feat that culminated in the club winning the League Super 8 in Asaba, Delta State.”

He said Obi‘s remains have been deposited at the Federal University Teaching Hospital, (FUTH), Owerri morgue, while the injured players are in the same hospital for treatment.