A wave of shock and grief has swept through Nigeria’s football community following the sudden death of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) Assistant Coach, Akin Olowokere, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Olowokere, who was only recently unveiled as part of the new coaching crew of the Oluyole Warriors, reportedly slumped on the pitch during the team’s Monday morning training session at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba.
Eyewitnesses told PUNCH Online that the incident occurred while the players and coaches were engaged in drills. Medical personnel rushed to his aid before he was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was confirmed dead.
As of the time of filing this report, the cause of death remains unknown, as no official statement has been issued by the club or the Oyo State sports authorities.
The late Olowokere, fondly remembered for his calm demeanor, was a former standout player for Sunshine Stars of Akure before transitioning into coaching. He had served as an assistant coach at Sunshine Stars under head coach Edith Agoye, prior to his recent appointment at 3SC, which came after the exit of the Gbenga Ogunbote-led technical crew.
Tributes have already begun to pour in from fans, colleagues, and former teammates, with many describing his death as a huge loss to Nigerian football.
If you want, I can also prepare a short tribute paragraph suitable for social media that captures both his career and the shock of his passing.
Punch
