The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has expressed sadness over the death of Heartland FC coach and former U-20 goalkeeper Christian Obi.
The coach died on Friday in an accident involving one of the team’s buses on their way to Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital for a pre-season tournament.
The club’s spokesman Olatunde Liadi said in a statement, “With sadness in our hearts and with total submission to the will of God, Heartland FC is announcing the death of Christian Power Obi who died on Friday, August 23, 2024, from a road accident en route to Abakaliki, Ebonyi State to participate in the TICO/SELECT Ifeanyi Ekwueme Pre-season Tournament.
“The heartbreaking day saw the Heartland FC team departing the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri for the pre-season tournament with enthusiasm at around 3:30 pm in three vehicles but at about some minutes after 4 pm, one of the vehicles rammed into a carelessly parked truck in its attempt to evade an oncoming vehicle.
“The driver tried as he could but the impact of the collision caused a sudden shock to our coach, Obi who was unconscious with a slight injury to his right leg upon evacuation from the badly affected part of the bus.
“Coach Obi and other injured players were rushed to the nearby hospital at Okwelle in Onuimo LGA of Imo State but despite the best efforts of the medical personnel our revered coach gave up the ghost.”
The club asked for privacy to mourn Obi.
Reacting to the news, NFF president Ibrahim Gusau said, “We are still stunned and saddened by the report. Our hearts go out to the immediate family of coach Christian Obi, his friends and relations, the Imo State Football Association and the Imo State Government, owners of Heartland Football Club.”
Obi was a member of the Nigeria U-20 team that won the bronze at the 1985 FIFA World Youth Championship (now FIFA U-20 World Cup) in the then Soviet Union, defeating the host nation in a penalty shootout in the third-place match after a scoreless regulation and extra time in Moscow.
Obi, 57, also competed in the men’s football tournament of the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.
