…NFF sets up an inquest

The news came as a big shock. After six weeks of uninterrupted display of great improvement in management and delivery, the Nigeria Premier League was jolted Sunday by the sudden death of Ocean Boys’ defender, Emma Ogoli.

He slumped while in the match against Niger Tornadoes. He   died on the way to the hospital.
President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Aminu Maigari has set up a medical panel to dig into the unfortunate incident.

“This is a very sad incident and we must make every effort to ensure it does not happen again. We must look into the whole gamut of how our players are certified medically fit to play football at the beginning of every season, and how the clubs ensure or fail to ensure medical fitness of their players during the season.

“The committee will also have the mandate to invite officials of the Nigeria Premier League and question them on salient matters.  If necessary steps were taken by the NPL and Ocean Boys FC, this young man Emmanuel Ogoli would perhaps still be alive today.”

Dr Abdulkadir Muazu, a renowned physician is head of the committee which includes Dr Akin Amoo, Dr Azubuike Onyebuchi, Dr Ken Anugweje and Dr Mohammed Sani Isah, while Christian Emeruwa will serve as Secretary.

Ogoli’s death once again brought to the fore worries about the medical fitness of our players, and whether clubs do enough to certify their players fit for matches.

Former Nigeria international, Sylvanus Okpala said he was miffed on learning of the death of the player. “It is unfortunate.

FIFA and the world over have been trying to prevent such deaths. Clubs in both professional and amateur clubs must carry out compulsory medicals before the beginning of each season to ascertain the level of fitness of their players. This is the standard practice all over the world. You can’t play football without a functional medical unit,” an angry Okpala said.

The NFF boss Maigari agrees with Okpala. Said he, “The medical committee will not only be looking at the clubs and their records alone but will have to look at the situation in the national league, the women’s league and the amateur league. It is time we stop burying our young players as a result of negligence.”.

NPL boss, Davidson Owumi also expressed shock after the incident but was quick to absolve the club of blame. “Everything needed to resuscitate the late player was present.