KAMPALA, September 22- A Ugandan footballer Fahad Musana collapsed and died moments later following Frank Lampard’s late equalizer in the English Premier League (EPL) game between Manchester City and Chelsea.
The death of Musana, 24, comes as total shock as the central defender played the entire game of his club – Simba’s 1-0 win over Entebbe FC – in the Uganda Premier League (UPL) match at Nakivubo Stadium on Saturday.
According to Simba coach Fred Kajoba, Musana also trained with the team on Sunday morning. “We trained with him at Bombo and there was no problem with him whatsoever,” he told supersport.com, adding, “I’m still in shock.”
Federation of Uganda Football Associations (Fufa) released a statement on their website moments after the player’s death on Sunday evening.
“Fufa is in shock after receiving news about the sudden death of Simba FC player Musana Fahad in Bombo this evening,” reads in part the statement, adding, “The body is currently at the Bombo Barracks Hospital. Burial arrangements will be communicated later.”
It is reported that Musana, a staunch Chelsea fan, breathed his last after ex-Blue Lampard equalised for his current side Manchester City in a game the visitors were leading 1-0 through an Andre Schurle goal.
Musana was watching from a local makeshift video hall in Bombo Town, home of Simba.
“He has been a passionate fan of Chelsea and would do anything for the club, apart from gambling,” Gerald Bagoole – scorer of the only goal in Simba’s victory on Saturday – who also distanced the deceased from betting, told a local site Kawowo Sports.
Witnesses from the video hall where Musana watched the game from say that the deceased was all lively enjoying the City-Chelsea game until that moment when Lampard equalized.
Musana is reported to have suddenly fainted, having everyone in the hall concerned. Onlookers say he died before being rushed to the nearby Bombo Military Hospital.
Although there is no known history of poor health on the desceased, it should be noted that he got a knock on the head during his club’s game on Saturday but medics approved him to proceed with play after having a look at him.
Fans of English football in Uganda have been involved in incidents in recent years.
Last year, a Ugandan Arsenal fan was reported to have lost his house after he placed a bet that the Londoners would beat Manchester United in an EPL game. United went on to pip Arsenal 1-0 and the Gunners fan paid the price.
-By SuperSport.com
