‘Niyi’s Death Left A Vacuum In My Team’

On Wednesday, 20 June, 2012, Nigerian football was struck with the death of a player, Niyi Lawal, who slumped and died during a match at the recently concluded Remmy Hazzan Unity Cup competition held in Odogbolu, Odogbolu Local Government Area of Ogun State, Southwest, Nigeria.

The tragic death of Hazzan, who was described as a gentle, respectful, jovial, humble and accommodating player, will create a big vacuum in the team, said the Chief Coach of Wonder Stars Football Club, Ijebu-Ode, Titus Sunday Adesanwo (a.k.a Osupa).

Osupa, who is the Vice-Chairman of Ijebu Football Coaches Council, told P.M. Sports that the sudden death of the prolific defender, still remains a shock to him and the entire team, adding that, the team have played three matches since his death and lost one which was the final of the competition where he died.

“Since the sudden death of Niyi, we have played three matches; we won two and lost one. The most painful thing was that the one we lost was the final match of the Hon. Remmy Hazzan Unity Cup competition which we won last year.

“Niyi died during the quarter-final match and we lost out in the final to Imperial Football Academy owned by the former Nigerian International, Seyi Olofinjana,” Osupa lamented.

The coach disclosed that he has known the deceased for over 10 years and since he knew him, he has been a wonderful and cool-headed player, who got married last year’s December at Ipokia town where all the players and coaches were present to rejoice with him.

“Niyi had been with us ever since he joined the club in 2002 as a striker. I converted him to a defender and he turned out to be one of the best three central defenders we have in Ijebu Land,” said Osupa.

The coach, however, revealed that the team, working in tandem with the coaches’ council, have concluded plans to look into areas where they can assist the children of the deceased.

Niyi Lawal, 29, whose elder brother, Toye, formerly played for Wonder Stars FC, but now playing for Ijebu Stars FC, was brought to Ijebu-Ode from Ibadan by one of his brothers, Tunde, who is a friend of Coach Osupa.

Lawal, a player of Wonder Star Football Club, representing Ward 11 at the Remmy Hazzan Unity Cup Competition, was playing in the quarter final match against Ward 2, represented by Timosteve Football Club, when he suddenly slumped and was quickly rushed to Dideolu Specialist Hospital at Ikenne where he was confirmed dead. He was also taken to Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, OOUTH, Sagamu where he was also certified dead.

He was buried the following day, Thursday, 21 June at the Muslim Cemetery at Oke-eri. Before he was buried, the corpse was taken to the Otunba Dipo Dina International Stadium, Ijebu-Ode with Ijebu players in attendance to give him the final respects.

During the brief lying-in-state at the stadium, the Head Coach of the Ogun State Football, Coach Ademola Okuwa addressed the mammoth crowd and later prayed for the soul of the departed Niyi and for those he left behind.

Niyi, until his death was a lanky, bully and versatile player, who dreamt of becoming a superstar like the former Nigeria international, Uche Okechukwu, popularly called, “Gentle Giant”, but Niyi died without achieving his life ambition.

—Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta