SAD: NPFL referee dies in a ghastly motor accident, NRA IMC, Club owners mourn
Abia state NRA expresses shock and prays that God blessed the soul of the promising referee who also doubled as a medical doctor.
By Olusola Adebayo
The Abia State Referee Association has announced the passing away of one of its members, Dr. Kingsley Nnaemeka, who was the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, designated referee until his death.
The Abia State chapter said in a release cited by www.234sportsng.com confirmed that the young Referee died in a ghastly motor accident on Lokoja -Enugu road- On his way back to Abia State after the Week 5 NPFL match between Nasarawa United and Plateau where he was the Assitant referee II in Kaduna.
Abia state NRA expresses shock and prays that God blessed the soul of the promising referee who also doubled as a medical doctor.
The Nigeriana football community has been mourning the death of Dr. Nnaemeka, with expressions of shock and disbelief.
In a statement jointly signed by the Chairman Ba Isaac Danladi and the Executive Secretary Alloy Chukwuemeka, the Football Club Owners Association of Nigeria described his death as shocking and unfortunate and as it had cut short his promising hubby as a Referee and his flourishing career as a young medical doctor.
The Association commiserated with his immediate family, the Abia state Football Association, Abia state Referees council, NRA, and the IMC, as well as his colleagues and friends on his sudden demise.
In the same vein " Nigeria Referees Association NRA, is in a very mournful mood following the unexpected demise of a member and premier league Referee of the Abia State Referees Council, Dr. Kings. ley Nnaemeka Eneogwe" a statement from the Nigeria Referee Association reads.
The Interim Management Committee, IMC of the NPFL also sent condolences in a statement signed by the secretary of the committee after the death of the referee was confirmed.
The IMC commiserated with the Abia NRA, NRA, and the entire Nigeria football community.
They went further to praise the virtues of the referee in trying to revamp the NPFL through the best of officiating while he was alive and pray that God grant the family he left behind the fortitude to bear the loss.
Late Kingsley was a medical doctor by profession while he was alive.
He passed out from Federal Government College, Ohafia, th proceeded to Abia State University where he read Medicine and Surgery and practiced as a Medical Doctor until death came calling.
Dr. Kingsley obtained Grade One in 2022 and went through the levels of national matches from Nationwide to National League Matches later gained promotion to Premier League about four years ago.
He was once invited for a Fifa Listing exercise by the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF Referees Committee in Abuja and he got promoted to the Premier League cadre and handled top-flight matches in the domestic league.
