Imo has lost star in Heartland coach, Christian Obi, says Uzodimma
By Jeffrey Agbo
Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has expressed sorrow over the sudden passing, in a ghastly auto crash, of the Head Coach of Heartland Football Club of Owerri, Christian Obi, saying the state has lost a star.
Heartland FC players and officials were on their way to a pre-season tournament named after another Nigeria ex-international, in Abakaliki, before their bus ran into a stationary vehicle while trying to avoid an oncoming vehicle in Okigwe.
The governor, in a statement on Saturday, sent his deepest condolences to the deceased’s immediate family, and prayed for the speedy recovery of other members of the team travelling with Obi who also sustained injuries as a result of the accident.
Uzodimma said: “It is with shock and sorrow that the Government of Imo State regrets to announce the tragic death of the head coach of Heartland football club of Owerri, Mr. Christian Obi, in a ghastly motor accident.
“The former Super Eagles player was on his way to Abakaliki with the Heartland team for a pre-season tournament when the accident occurred.
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“The Government sends its deepest condolences to the immediate family of the late Christian Obi and prays for the quick recovery of those injured in the accident.”
Obi was a member of the Nigeria U20 team that won the bronze medals at the 1985 FIFA World Youth Championship (now FIFA U20 World Cup) in the then Soviet Union, defeating the host nation on penalty shootout in the third-place match after scoreless regulation and extra time in Moscow.
Though Obi was second-choice goalkeeper, he was thrown into action in the third-place match following injury to first-choice Aloysius Agu in the 0-2 defeat to Brazil in the semi-finals in Leningrad, and Obi’s heroics in saving three of the Soviet Union team’s penalty kicks handed Nigeria a 3-1 win in the shootout and first-ever podium finish in FIFA’s second most important tournament.
He was also part of Nigeria’s squad to the Men’s Football Tournament of the 1988 Olympics in Seoul.