Fresh facts have emerged as to how Adeyemi Adewale, a 29-year-old player for Ilesa West Football Club, died.
Media Talk Africa had reported that Adewale died during the Isiaka Adeleke Memorial Cup finals held at Ataoja School of Science in Osogbo on Thursday, January 16, 2025.
Revealing the facts on Friday, the Ilesa West Football Club coach, Adewale Awe, said the footballer slumped a few minutes before the end of the match and died almost immediately.
Awe disclosed that the late footballer had shown no signs of any ailment before the match.
He also revealed that Adewale had planned to celebrate his birthday with his teammates after the match.
However, he added that his attention was drawn to Adewale shortly after he slumped on the field.
“Thursday was his birthday, and we had decided that after playing the match, we would return home to celebrate it.
“He ate on our way to Osogbo. When we got to the field, we dressed up and went in for the game. He was part of the team, and he didn’t complain of sickness. The first half ended, and we went on break.
“We started the second half, and about five minutes before the end of the second half, we got a free-kick. But the opposing coach was telling one of his players that a player had fallen down on the pitch. The opposing player rushed to him, and others did as well.
“We called for an ambulance, and the medical personnel tried to resuscitate him. Before we got to the hospital, he had given up.”
His death was also confirmed by the Osun State Police Command Police Public Relations Officer, Yemisi Opalola, in a statement late on Thursday night.
Opalola said, “While the Adeleke Memorial Cup Final match was going on at Ataoja School of Science, one Adeyemi Adewale, ‘M’ 29 years, a player of Ilesa West Football team, slumped on the pitch. He was rushed to Osun State University Teaching Hospital, where he was later confirmed dead by a doctor.”
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the late Otunba Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke Memorial Cup, Oladele Bamiji, has expressed sadness over the unfortunate incident.
Bamiji, in a statement on Friday, said, “All efforts to rescue Adewale Adeyemi after he suddenly slumped on the pitch, at about the 84th minute of the 3rd place match between Ilesa West Local Government and Ejigbo Local Government football teams, proved abortive.”
He also condoled with the immediate and extended families of the deceased.
