Tragedy struck in Kano, Sunday, when Abdul Haruna, a former Kano Pillars forward, slumped and died on the pitch during a football match.
Haruna, 27, who also had stint at another Nigeria Premier League side, Heartland, returned home for the holidays after a campaign with his Vietnamese side, Song Lam Nghe.
He met his untimely death while in action in a friendly game with a Kano selected side where it was reported he slumped and died without any physical contact.
Former Nigerian league champions, Pillars, confirmed the incident via its media officer, Idris Malikwa, who announced that the entire football community in the state are in shock over his demise.
“Abdul Haruna died Sunday while playing in a friendly match between Kano Professionals and a selected amateur team in Kano,” the Pillars media chief said.
“He was moving with the ball when he slumped and died on the pitch.
“He fell down unchallenged and was immediately rushed to the nearby hospital before he was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty.
“This is a huge shock to the entire football family in Kano, we never expected this.
“He will be buried on Monday according to Islamic rites in Kano.”
Haruna is survived by his wife, Surayya and a baby boy.
Other Nigerian players to have died in similar scenario include Bobsam Elejiko, Amir Angwe, Endurance Idagor, Samuel Okwaraji and Emmanuel Ogoli.
