Nigerian Non-League footballer dies after brain injury

Tributes have poured in following the tragic death of Nigerian non-league footballer Saburi Olayinka Adeniji, who died after suffering a catastrophic brain injury.

Adeniji passed away in hospital just one day before his wife and four-year-old daughter were due to arrive from Nigeria to say their final goodbyes. He was a winger for Kings Park Rangers, a club based in Halstead, Essex.

The club has since rallied around the Adeniji family, who made the long journey to England to be with him. Tragically, they arrived on Friday morning, shortly after he had passed away.

A fundraising appeal launched to support his family has raised more than £16,000 towards a £17,000 target. The appeal revealed that Adeniji was admitted to intensive care on January 25 at Queen’s Hospital, where he was treated in the Critical Care Department after sustaining a severe brain stem injury.

Medical staff delayed withdrawing life support in the hope that his family would arrive in time to see him. However, Kings Park Rangers confirmed the heartbreaking news in a statement released on Saturday.

“It is with great sadness that we must announce that our number 17, Saburi Adeniji ‘Ola’, passed away yesterday morning,” the club said. “He fought so hard to still be here for when his family arrived. His wife and daughter unfortunately arrived this morning, a day late.

“He will always be a King. He will always be loved — as a friend, as a dad, as a husband, as a brother and as a son. R.I.P Saburi Adeniji.”

Kings Park Rangers, who compete in the Essex and Suffolk Border League, waived gate fees at recent matches and redirected the proceeds as donations to support the family. The club also held a minute’s silence ahead of their fixture against Henley Athletic last weekend and organised a fundraising event in his honour.

The post Nigerian Non-League footballer dies after brain injury appeared first on Sporting Life.