Martins, a central defender aged 23, had slumped without having contact with anyone in his own half towards the end of first-half in our Nigerian Professional Football League matchday 23 clash against Katsina United FC at our home ground in Lafia on Sunday, 8th March, 2020, which we eventually won 3-0.
A combined team of medics immediately rushed to the field to resuscitate him before he was immediately taken to the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, some few kilometres from the stadium, where he was pronounced dead.
Martins Chineme who hailed from Abia State, was a dependable, young, promising, great player who fought till the end and formed a pivotal part of Nasarawa United squad since he joined us three seasons ago from FC Abuja after his stint with FC Ifeanyi Ubah.
As a Club, we are terrified by his untimely death. We have held a joint-meeting involving members of Late Martins’ immediate family led by his elder brother, Michael Chineme, the Management of Nasarawa United FC headed by Barr. Isaac Danladi, the Coaching Crew as well as Captains of our Club.
Based on agreement between Late Martins’ family, the LMC and Nasarawa United FC, an autopsy will be conducted to ascertain the remote cause of his death as the deceased player was duly certified medically fit for the season after passing through the medicals which was part of the conditions for his registration with the NPFL in line to the framework and rules under the LMC.
However we wish to apologise onbehalf of the State Football Association to the LMC and the entire Football fraternity for the poor response of the medical Ambulance due to a developed mechanical fault.
We regret every inconvenience and embarrassment that such unforeseen development had caused to the league, our club image and the entire Football system. Nasarawa Utd is one of the front line clubs that has always strive to comply to the NPFL Framework and Rules as well well as the club licensing regulations and we thus hugely regret this incident.
Meanwhile the state Governor Engr. Abdulahi Sule in a meeting with the Management of the club after evaluation of the incident had promised the upgrading of the medical emergency equipments available to the club including a brand new well equipped ambulance as well as appointment of additional medical personnel to the club’s medical team.
We wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of Late Martins Chineme, his team-mates, Coaches, loved ones, fans, the football family in Nasarawa State and Nigeria as a whole, and those who are emotionally and psychologically affected through this ugly incident.
As a club, we wish to assure Late Martins’ family and the general public that we will not leave any stone unturned in order to accord him a befitting last respect and uphold his mission with Nasarawa United FC.
For now, we wish to humbly request that the privacy of the Club and Martins’ family be respected. We will update the public on further developments, please.
Our special appreciation goes to the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, His Excellency, Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule, who was present at the scene of the incident and heartbroken, for his fatherly role and support to the team and Martins’ family.
We equally want to thank all those who have been standing by us, through prayers, physical visit, phone calls, and text messages during this tough moment that we find ourselves.
May God continue to reward you all. Amen.
