The Nigerian football family would have been thrown into a mourning mood on Monday after Heartland FC Head Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu his two assistants and Team Manager cheated death on the Benin-Asaba expressway while returning to Owerri, the Imo State capital.
The gashtly motor accident which occurred less than 24 hours after the Naze Millionaires recorded a 2-1 victory over MFM FC of Lagos at the Agege Stadium, left all the occupants inside Fidelis Ilechukwu’s Toyota Venza SUV with minor injuries.
The five-passenger mid-size crossover Sports Utility Vehicle rammed into a Mercedes Benz 911 truck that was carrying bamboo. The incident left the windscreen and roof of the car badly damaged.
This is the second time in two season the ‘Working One’ and his assistants have been involved in a gashly motor accident while heading back to Owerri after a Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) game.
Ilechukwu who was the one driving the car, was said to have passed out and was immediately rushed to the St Luke’s Hospital in Asaba where he and the other coaches got treated for various injuries.
An eye witness told OwoSports.com.ng that: “They were lucky to be alive as the accident happened within split seconds.
“Their Toyota Venza SUV crashed into a 911 truck just five minutes drive to Asaba.
“Luckily for them, they all came out of the car with minor injuries but the driver looked to have passed out owing to the impact of the accident. They were immediately rushed to the hospital by good samaritans.
“They were later discharged after the doctors at the hospital certified that none had no life threatening injuries and could go home.”
Heartland will on MatchDay 10 of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) welcome Lobi Stars to the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri.