Katsina United’s newly signed player ‘in ICU’ after slumping during pre-season friendly

Chinedu Uzoh, a newly signed player of Katsina United, is in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after he slumped during a pre-season friendly match on Tuesday. 

In a chat with TheCable, Nasir Gibe, Katsina United’s media officer, said the player was taken to the ICU at Katsina General Hospital at the behest of his relatives despite two hospitals pronouncing him dead.

Uzoh had a medical emergency during a pre-season friendly game between Katsina United and Niger Tornadoes FC at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, Katsina. He was then rushed to K-Dara Specialist Hospital, where he was first allegedly pronounced dead.

According to Katsina United’s media officer, despite a second report from another hospital confirming the player’s death, Uzoh’s relatives insisted he is still alive.

Gibe added that the player is currently being administered oxygen in the ICU.

“The reports given from the medical examinations from both hospitals that we took him to. They confirmed to us that he is dead,” the club’s media officer told TheCable.

“But we don’t know where or who saw his hands shaking, which makes his relatives say he is still alive and that we should take him to the ICU.

“The ICU request is from the relatives, and we cannot deny them that right, even though the doctors have confirmed that he is dead.”

Gibe refused to speak further on the medical details behind the player’s slump, adding that the information is only known to the team doctors.

Ozoh was previously with Kano Pillars FC before joining Katsina United ahead of the forthcoming Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season.