Nassarawa United’s defender Chineme Martins gave up the ghost barely few minutes after his side picked the lead at the Lafia Stadium in Minna on Sunday.

It was a Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) matchday 23 encounter between the Solid Miners and Katsina United which ended 3-0 in favour of the host.

BusybuddiesNG.com caught up with Sammy Ugbede, an ardent follower of Nigeria’s topflight league, who was at the Lafia stadium to watch Martins play.

”I was live at the scene of the match between Nassarawa United and Katsina United. The match started on a high note after the first goal was scored by Nassarawa United. And in between the range of 20 minutes or 25 minutes later the boy (Martin’s the defender) fell on the floor(pitch) and when it happened, his fellow players had to come in, the centre referee put hold to the match, trying to work out the rescue but they discovered it was very critical that they had to blow air into him, touch his leg because his leg was already stiff, because it was a bit of delay after he slumped.

The mouth was very strong so they had to help him. Trying to get the ambulance, the ambulance driver was not on point, there was no ambulance around the stadium. There was a bit delay in getting the ambulance and later on, the ambulance had to come to the centre of the field to come and pick up the player.

He was confirmed dead in the hospital but he must have died in the field before because everywhere was cold even the players – some of them have already knew what had happened to the player. but it is quite unfortunate (that it happened) on a match day of that magnitude.

His excellency the Governor of Nassarawa State , Engr. A. A. Sule was at the scene to cheer the team up but quite unfortunate this young man died as a national hero in trying to make name for his state team. May his soul rest in perfect peace.”