By Enitan Abdultawab
Katsina United have debunked reports that their player, Chinedu Ozor, regained consciousness after collapsing during a friendly match against Niger Tornadoes at the Muhammad Dikko Stadium in Katsina.
The club, in a statement issued by its Media Directorate, said Ozor passed away despite efforts to save his life, urging the public to stop circulating reports that he survived the incident.
“With broken hearts, we wish to clarify the circumstances surrounding the tragic passing of our player, Chinedu Ozor, who collapsed during a friendly match against Niger Tornadoes at the Muhammad Dikko Stadium, Katsina,” the club said.
“Despite the efforts that followed, Chinedu sadly passed away.”
The clarification followed reports suggesting that the player later regained consciousness or “came back to life” after the incident.
Katsina United said the reports were untrue, explaining that Ozor’s family had initially refused to accept his death and continued to hope that he would survive.
“We have seen reports claiming that Chinedu later regained consciousness or ‘came back to life.’ We understand that people desperately wanted this to be true. We all did. But sadly, those reports are not true,” the statement read.
“In the heartbreaking moments after the incident, Chinedu’s family, overwhelmed by shock and refusing to give up hope, asked for further medical confirmation before his body was taken to the morgue.”
The club stressed that the period of grief should not be clouded by misinformation about the circumstances surrounding the player’s death.
“That moment of hope must not be turned into a story that Chinedu survived. He did not regain consciousness. He passed away,” Katsina United said.
The club also appealed to members of the public and media organisations to respect the privacy of Ozor’s grieving family, teammates and friends.
“We ask from the bottom of our hearts: stop the rumours. Stop the false reports. Stop sharing unverified information,” the statement added.
“Behind every post, every headline and every video is a grieving family. Behind the name Chinedu Ozor was a son, a brother, a teammate, a friend and a young man whose life meant so much to many people.”
Katsina United said Ozor’s family needed compassion rather than speculation, while his teammates needed space to grieve.
“At this moment, what his family needs is compassion, not speculation. What his teammates need is space to grieve. And what Chinedu deserves is to be remembered with dignity,” the club said.
The club concluded by praying for strength for Ozor’s family and for the peaceful repose of his soul.
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