Tony Ubani And Taye Obateru
24 December 2008
TEARS flowed freely yesterday as the nine female footballers and their two coaches were given a mass burial by the Plateau State Government. The charred remains of the footballers were dumped in sacks in pieces and the few people who attended wept as they were hauled into the graves. The burial was at the accident site around Dorowa Village near Mangu.
Hundreds of sympathizers who attended had to use face masks because of the state of remains of the footballers. A woman who could not hold herself fainted as the sacks were being thrown into the grave. "This life is nothing. See as human beings are being buried as if they are animals", she moaned.
Meanwhile, grief enveloped the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos yesterday when the news of the death of the nine female footballers who died in an auto crash hit the Sportscity.
The nine players and their two coaches who died in the ill-fated accident along Mangu/Pankshin road in Plateau were returning to their base after a match. Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, were shell-shocked just as sportsmen and women gathered in circles in Lagos discussing the tragic event. Image Maker of NFF, Ademola Olajire said that a delegation from the Nigeria Football Federation left for Jos, capital of Plateau State yesterday. Vanguard correspondent in Jos, Taye Obateru reports that people in Jos were not even aware of the tragedy as the local Radio, TV and newspapers blacked out of the news apparently because of the crisis in Jos that claimed hundreds of lives. "Some People in Jos are not even aware of the tragedy. The whole place is tensed up and I believe that the news of the accident could spark off another riot", Obateru said on our hotline.
Dapo Sotiminu, a specialist on Female Football described the deaths as "horrific and a bad way to end the year. These are poor players who are looking for a way to better their lives and get into the national teams. See how they ended. So, so sad", he said on phone.
The Nigeria Football Federation yesterday consoled the Plateau State Football Association and the government and people of the State over the tragic death.
NFF General Secretary, Dr Bolaji Ojo-Oba said the catastrophe was indeed a painful one for the federation with only a few days to the end of the year.
"Women's football has been struggling to get head above water in this country for almost two decades, and the game has come a long way. This incident has come, sadly, at a time that the future for the women's game in this country looks quite bright", mourned Ojo-Oba. In his letter to the Plateau State Football Association, Ojo-Oba wrote:
"It was with huge shock and a massive sense of grief that the President, Members of Executive Committee, Management and Staff of the Nigeria Football Federation learnt of the tragic death of nine women footballers and their two coaches in an auto crash on Monday, 22nd December, 2008.
"We are indeed most pained by the sheer catastrophe. The women footballers who were returning from a football tournament in Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau State died tragically in an incident that sadly reminds one of the death of some Police women footballers in another auto crash several years ago.
"We sincerely share your pain and sorrow at this moment, as these women footballers represented part of the pool from which players could be invited into any of the National Women teams, and their Coaches could have become managers of any of the national teams.
"Our prayer is that Almighty Allah will grant the souls of the departed footballers and their Coaches eternal rest, while at the same time granting the families of the deceased fortitude to bear the big loss".
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its quite painful, we pray that their soul rest in perfect peace. Goernment should try and console the family
This is a good example of a country where leaders are busy stealing the peoples' money and dumping same abroad instead of constructing good roads for her citizenry.
This once again manifests the lip-service of Nigerian leaders to the state of roads nationwide which may have been responsible for this tragedy.The Federal Government and the relevant State/Local Government of these footballers should take steps to wipe the tears off the face of their families and possibly set up Trust Fund for the upkeep/education of their children/dependants.
Dr.Goddy Iniks
This is sad indeed.we do not value life in this country.How does one come to terms with the avoidable carnage on our roads when our rulers misappropriate billions of dollars of oil money meant for the provision of social amenities.This is most agonizing when one remembers that these selfish rulers do not honor sports men and women whose exploits have written the name of nigeria in the hearts of millions of people all over the globe.Much more than their big grammar and designer wears can ever do.The police does not even remember their female footballers that died years back in a road accident.pity.
its really sad please be comforted. May their souls rest in peace
its unfortunate that these wonderful ladies had their career cut short by this tragic accident. Who should we blame? As for me, i will blame the government for the deplorable condition of our roads. its so so sad, and it can happen to any one. im appealing to the Govt to do something about our death traps called roads..