It was a tragic scene in Osogbo the Osun State capital when a 29-year-old footballer, identified as Adeyemi Adewale from Ilesa West Football Team tragically lost his life during a football match.
Reports revealed that the tragedy occured during the Adeleke Memorial Cup finals held at Ataoja School of Science in Osogbo on Thursday, January 16, 2025.
The football tourney was hosted by the state governor, Ademola Adeleke annually in honour of the late Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, his elder brother and first Executive governor of Osun State.
The elder Adeleke passed away in April, 2017.
While comfirming the development, the Osun State Police Command Police Public Relations Officer, Yemisi Opalola in a statement on Thursday night disclosed that Adewale collapsed on the pitch during the match and was immediately rushed to the Osun State University Teaching Hospital for medical attention.
The statement reads in part: “TODAY, 16/01/2025, WHILE THE ADELEKE MEMORIAL CUP FINALS MATCH WAS GOING ON AT ATAOJA SCHOOL OF SCIENCE, ONE ADEYEMI ADEWALE ‘M’ 29YRS, A PLAYER FROM ILESA WEST FOOTBALL TEAM, SLUMPED ON THE PITCH.
“HE WAS RUSHED TO OSUN STATE UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, WHERE HE WAS LATER CONFIRMED DEAD BY THE DOCTOR.
“MEANWHILE, HIS CORPSE HAS BEEN DEPOSITED AT THE HOSPITAL MORGUE”.
