NFF Pays Governor Sule Condolence Visit
By Richard Ajegena
A delegation from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has paid a condolence visit to the Governor of Nasarawa State, Engineer Abdullahi A. Sule.
The delegation led by Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau were at the Nasarawa State Government House, Shendam Road, Lafia on Wednesday (March 18, 2020) to commiserate with the Governor over the death of Nasarawa United player Chineme Martins.
Recall that Chineme Martins slumped during the Match Day 23 Nigeria Professional Football League game at the Lafia City Stadium between Nasarawa United and Katsina United.
Governor Sule was at the stadium on that fateful day and witnessed the unfortunate incident.
Gusau who spoke on behalf of the delegation sympathized with the Governor and indeed the good people of Nasarawa State over the death of Martins.
He said “We are here to extended our condolence over the unfortunate incident that occurred in Lafia and the commensurate with the good people of Nasarawa State”.
He continued by appreciating Nasarawa state government’s continual push in promoting sports, especially football.
He said the delegation is in Lafia also to see that things like what happened at the Lafia City Stadium does not repeat itself.
The Governor in his response, appreciated the delegation for the visit while also assuring them of his administration’s resolve to forestall such ugly incidents from repeating itself.
“Death is inevitable as the case of Martins but as the case is in order to curb any future occurrence I have mandated two doctors from the government house and also approved an ambulance also from the government house to but on ground for Nasarawa United’s home games”.
“I can remember vividly in 1989 I was in Lagos when Samuel Okparaji slumped and died while also in the US, Kansas City to be precise a player slumped and died during an American Football game so when it comes to death, no one knows the day but we have to be prepared, it was so unfortunate and hopefully such will never repeat itself again, he concluded”.
The delegation of the NFF included Alhaji Sulieman Kwande ( Chairman Media and Finance Committee, NFF) and Alhaji Ahmed Fresh (NFF head of Technical Committee and Caf executive member), Alhaji Mohammed Alkali (NLO independent chairman and Nasarawa State FA Chairman), Barr Isaac Danladi (Chairman Nasarawa United and Chairman Club Owners of Nigeria) and Alhaji Othman Bala (Honorable Commissioner of Sports Nasarawa State).
