The Nigerian football community has been thrown into mourning again following the sudden demise of a former youth international, Gift Atulewa who played alongside famous stars like John Obi Mikel and Taye Taiwo at the 2005 FIFA U-20 tournament in Holland. The football star d!ed in the early hours of today November 12 from High blood pressure complications.

Confirming his demise to Premiumtimes. the spokesperson for the Delta State Football Association,Azuka Chiemeka, said the 38-year-old prolific forward d!ed at about 7am.

“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 a.m.” he said

Mr Azuka reflected on Atulewa’s recent involvement in football, saying,

“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.”

Additionally, Atulewa had recently returned from Cote d’Ivoire, where he completed a coaching course. Unfortunately, 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. and later Warri Wolves F.C., where he featured prominently. Like John Obi Mikel, Taye Taiwo and the likes, he was a member of the Nigerian U-20 team that participated in the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in the Netherlands.

Sadly, Atulewa becomes the third member of the 2005 U-20 set to pass away, following Olufemi Adebayo and Isaac Promise.