10th March, 2020
Nasarawa State Government on Tuesday announced the approval of new safety measures to protect footballers from sudden health hazards while on the pitch of play at the Lafia Township Stadium.
Othman Bala-Adam, the state’s Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, told newsmen in Lafia that the measures included the provision of facilities and employment of staff.
Chineme Martins, a defender with Nasarawa United Football Club, slumped to death at the stadium on Sunday.
The incident occurred during a Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Match Day 23 fixture between Nasarawa United and Katsina United.
Martins later died after all efforts to resuscitate him failed.
“A standard well-equipped ambulance has been approved to be stationed at the stadium for all home matches of both Nasarawa United FC and Nasarawa Amazons FC henceforth, so as to quickly take care of any emergency during a home fixture.
“The state governor, Abdullahi Sule, has also approved the recruitment of adequate medical staff and the training and retraining of the medical staff attached to both teams,’’ Bala-Adam said.
He added that the governor emphasised on attaching medical doctors with considerable experience in sports injury to both teams.
Bala-Adam described the death of Martins as saddening and unfortunate for all football lovers in the state.
He said Gov. Sule has pledged to ensure the incident never repeated itself.
The commissioner disclosed further that the governor has also approved the purchase of two new buses for both Nasarawa United and Nasarawa Amazons.
“A Toyota Hilux Van was also approved for the management of Nasarawa United,’’ he said.