By Seyi Babalola
New information has emerged about how Adeyemi Adewale, a 29-year-old Ilesa West Football Club player, died.
It was reported that Adewale died on Thursday, January 16, 2025, during the Isiaka Adeleke Memorial Cup finals at Osogbo’s Ataoja School of Science.
Adewale Awe, coach of Ilesa West Football Club, revealed the truth on Friday, stating that the footballer slumped a few minutes before the end of the match and died nearly immediately.
Awe revealed that the late footballer had no symptoms before the match.
He also claimed that Adewale intended to celebrate his birthday with his teammates following the match.
However, he said that his attention was called to Adewale immediately after he collapsed on the pitch.
“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.”
