SWAN Mourns Obi, Commiserates With Uzodimma

The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Southeast Caucus have expressed their heartfelt condolence to the government and good people of Imo state over the death of Christian Obi, Coach of Heartland FC of Owerri.

Ikemefuna Asika, Vice President of SWAN Southeast Zone said this in a condolence message issued on behalf of the five chapters in the Caucus on Saturday. Coach Christian Azubike Obi died on Friday in a vehicular road accident in Okigwe while leading his team to Abakaliki, Ebonyi state for a preseason tournament. Asika who described Obi's death as sudden and tragic said it was a huge loss to the football community in particular and sports world in general as the deceased still had a lot to contribute to the growth and development of the round leather game.

He said Obi, an Olympian, was a successful goalie, a consummate coach and cerebral personality who led his life in service of others. According to the Vice President, it is with a heavy heart that we received the sad news of the death of Coach Obi. “His death is quite unfortunate, coming at a time when Heartland FC just received a new lease of life and is ready to begin anew in their continued quest for glory in the NPFL “On behalf of five state chapters of SWAN in the Southeast, I wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of Christian Obi, Staff and management of Heartland FC, the good people of Imo state and Gov. Hope Uzodimma on this irreparable loss. “We pray that God will grant Obi's soul eternal rest and grive the bereaved the fortitude to bear the loss just as we pray that such does not befall us again," he said