Nigerian defender, David Oniya, died on Saturday after collapsing on the pitch during a friendly match between his Malaysian club T-Team and Kelantan.
Local media said the 30-year-old T-Team captain collapsed three minutes into the match in Kota Bharu and was taken to the hospital.
Syahrizan Mohd Zain, T-Tean CEO, said the defender did not receive quick medical treatment.
“He suffered a heart attack, but it could have been a different story had the ambulance driver was alert,” he told the New Straits Times.
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“The driver was at the stands watching the game when Oniya suddenly collapsed and our defender was deprived of oxygen for several minutes.”
The match was abandoned after 60 minutes when a message was received from the hospital that Oniya had died.
“He was pronounced dead at the hospital about 30 minutes later,” Zain said.
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Oniya had only just joined the Malaysian club this season after spells in Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.
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