Nigeria National League (NNL) side Heartland will observe one minute of silence in honour of departed former player and coach, Kelechi Emeteole.
The Naze Millionaires are guests of Crown FC in Wednesday’s restart of the Bet9ja NNL matchday 18 clash at the Soun Township Stadium in Ogbomosho.
Emeteole passed on in the early hours of Wednesday in an Indian hospital over complications arising from throat cancer.
The ‘Caterpillar’, as he was known in his playing days in the national team, had managed top-flight teams El Kanemi Warriors and Enugu Rangers.
An official of Heartland and family friend, Solomon Onuh, who actually broke the news of Emeteole’s death, said the side will wear a black armband for the fallen star in their home match against Bendel Insurance.
“We will observe a minute silence in honour of coach Kelechi Emeteole in our match against Crown FC in Ogbomosho.
“I’m sure we will be wearing a black armband when we host Bendel Insurance in our next home match in Owerri.
“The entire team is devastated by the shocking news of coach Emeteole’s death and we hope the players will rise to the occasion to honour him further with an impressive performance against Crown,” said Onuh to supersport.com.
Onuh disclosed that Emeteole’s wife, Phoebe called him around 1:00am on Wednesday to break the news of her husband passing away.
“Emeteole’s wife, Phoebe called me around 1:00am on Wednesday and instead of the usual chat she started crying and sobbing with the heart breaking news – coach has passed on after everything to keep him alive.
“We actually had a video chat on Whatsapp on Monday where she informed that coach is going through a lot but that his treatment is good.
“I was happy, assuring her that everything will end in praise – thanksgiving.
“She shifted the video call to where coach was lying down and he waved to me, little did it occur to me that was a parting goodbye,” said Onuh.
