Coach Christian Obi of Heartland FC of Owerri has passed away following a tragic road accident. The club’s Media Officer, Tunde Liadi, confirmed the incident in a statement released in Owerri on Saturday.
Liadi reported that the accident occurred around 4 p.m. on Friday at Okwelle in the Onuimo Local Government Area of Imo State. The accident happened when the team’s Coaster bus collided with a stationary truck while trying to avoid a head-on collision with an oncoming vehicle.
According to Liadi, there were about 20 team members on the bus, and several players sustained various degrees of injuries. The team was en route to the TICO/SELECT Ifeanyi Ekwueme Preseason Tournament in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, when the accident occurred.
Liadi explained that the bus driver made every effort to avert the accident, but the impact of the collision caused a sudden shock to Coach Obi. He was found unconscious, with a slight injury on his right leg, and was quickly taken out of the badly damaged bus. Obi and the injured players were immediately rushed to a nearby private hospital for medical treatment.
Tragically, despite the medical team’s best efforts to resuscitate him, Coach Obi later passed away.
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“The heartbreaking day began with the Heartland FC team leaving the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, for the pre-season tournament with enthusiasm around 3:30 p.m. in three vehicles. At about some minutes past 4 p.m., one of the vehicles rammed into a carelessly parked truck while attempting to avoid an oncoming vehicle,” Liadi said.
He added that the news of Obi’s death has plunged everyone at the club into deep mourning, given his invaluable contributions. Coach Obi’s legacy includes leading the club to an unbeaten run in the Nigeria National League during the 2022-23 season, culminating in winning the League Super 8 in Asaba, Delta State.
Liadi requested that while the club appreciates the outpouring of concern from football enthusiasts, the privacy of the club and the bereaved family be respected during this period of grief.
Reports indicate that Coach Obi’s remains have been deposited at the Federal University Teaching Hospital (FUTH) morgue in Owerri, while the injured players have been referred to the same hospital for proper medical care.
