Katsina United has begun arrangements to return the body of footballer Chinedu Ozor for burial after he tragically collapsed and died nine minutes into the club’s pre-season match against Niger Tornadoes.
Chinedu Ozor
The management of Katsina United Football Club has commenced arrangements to convey the remains of its late player, Chinedu Ozor, to his hometown for burial following his death during a pre-season friendly match.
Speaking exclusively to Channels Television at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium on Wednesday, the club’s Media Officer, Nasir Gide, said members of Ozor’s family arrived in Katsina to confirm his death.
According to Gide, the deceased player’s relatives were taken to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Katsina General Hospital, where they saw his body and accepted his death as the will of God.
He said the family subsequently requested that Ozor’s remains be transferred to the mortuary of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina, pending burial arrangements, a request which the club immediately granted.
“They completed all the necessary documentation at Katsina General Hospital before obtaining a referral to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina. The mortuary officials accepted the body for preservation,” Gide said.
He added that the club had provided accommodation and other necessary support for the bereaved family as discussions continued on the logistics of transporting the late footballer’s remains to his hometown for burial.
Ozor collapsed nine minutes into Katsina United’s pre-season match against Niger Tornadoes at the Gusau/Ahlan Pre-season Cup on Tuesday.
He was initially rushed to K-Dara Specialist Hospital, Gidan Dawa, where he was pronounced dead before his death was later confirmed at Katsina General Hospital.
However, confusion followed after Ozor’s roommate reportedly noticed movement in one of the player’s hands while his body was being taken to the mortuary.
The development prompted medical personnel to return the player to Katsina General Hospital, where he was placed on life support in the ICU for 24 hours at the request of his family.
The family had also asked that the body should not be deposited in the mortuary until they arrived to personally confirm the situation.
Despite the emergency medical efforts and period of observation, Katsina United later confirmed Ozor’s death.
The club management has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the deceased player’s family and ensuring that arrangements for his final journey are handled with dignity and respect.
The death has thrown the Nigerian football community into mourning, coming after Ozor collapsed during the pre-season encounter against Niger Tornadoes.
Earlier, the Katsina State Government had expressed condolences to the player’s family and Katsina United.
In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Dikko Radda, Ibrahim Mohammed, the governor described Uzor’s death as a devastating loss to the club, the football community and Katsina State.
He extended his condolences to the player’s family, Katsina United FC, his teammates, coaches, management, supporters, former club Kano Pillars FC and the wider Nigerian football community.
