Heartland Football Club, a former Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) team, was involved in a tragic bus accident on their way to Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, for the Ifeanyi Ekwueme TICO/SELECT preseason tournament. The accident claimed the life of their head coach, Christian Obi, a former Super Eagles goalkeeper.
The incident occurred in Umunna, near Okigwe in Imo State, when the team’s bus attempted to avoid an oncoming vehicle and collided with another vehicle that had been carelessly parked after a separate accident. Several players and officials sustained injuries and were rushed to the hospital for treatment. Unfortunately, Coach Christian Obi, 57, succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
Initial reports from Heartland FC, which is owned by Imo State, stated that no lives were lost. However, it was later confirmed that Coach Obi had passed away as a result of the crash.
The accident has cast a shadow over the team’s recent appointment of former Nigeria international Emmanuel Amuneke as technical adviser. Amuneke, who was unveiled by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma on August 5, was not confirmed to be with the team at the time of the accident.
This tragedy follows rumors that Heartland FC was planning to acquire the NPFL slot of Beyond Limits Football Academy, which is owned by the founder of another NPFL club, Remo Stars.
