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A former youth football international, Mr. Gift Atulewa, has been reported dead in the wee hours of Tuesday, November 12, 2024, from High Blood Pressure complications.
The spokesman for the Delta State Football Association, Mr. Azuka Chiemeka, confirmed the sad news to newsmen.
Mr. Chiemeka added that the 38-year-old prolific forward died about 7 AM.
Chiemeka said: “We just buried the wife last month, that may have contributed to this development.
“He has blood pressure issues, but he has been managing it.
“Just day before yesterday, the condition became bad, and he was taken to the hospital.
“They noticed he had malaria, but aside from that, the blood pressure kept going up.
“We lost him this morning by 7 AM”, he added.
Mr. Chiemeka reflected on Atulewa’s recent involvement in football.
The Delta State Football spokesman said: “As we are speaking, there is an ex-international football tournament going on in Delta State and he is part of the ex-Uwei where he comes from.
“He is part of their team; he scored the first goal of the tournament from his wonderful free kick that he is known for.
“He scored that goal like three weeks ago when the competition began.”
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Who is Atulewa?
Mr. Atulewa had recently returned from Cote d’Ivoire, where he completed a coaching course, according to reports.
However, he won’t be putting to use the certificate obtained.
A talented player, Atulewa began his career with Bayelsa United F.C. before moving to Ocean Boys F.C.
He later joined Warri Wolves F.C., also from Delta State, where he featured prominently.
He was a member of the Nigerian U-20 team that participated in the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in the Netherlands.
Incidentally, Atulewa becomes the third member of the 2005 U-20 football tournament set to pass away.
He follows others such as late Olufemi Adebayo and Isaac Promise in the list of the demised.
