Former Flying Eagles player, Gift Atulewa, has passed away at the age of 38.
Azuka Chiemeka, who serves as the spokesperson for the Delta State Football Association, confirmed the news.
He explained that Atulewa succumbed to complications from high blood pressure early on Tuesday morning, around 7 a.m.
Azuka explained that Atulewa’s passing comes just a month after the burial of his wife, an event that likely exacerbated his health struggles.
“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,” Azuka shared. “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.”
Reflecting on Atulewa’s recent contributions to football, Mr. Azuka noted his involvement in an ex-international football tournament currently underway in Delta State.
“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,” Azuka recalled, highlighting the goal-scoring talent that Atulewa was celebrated for throughout his career.
Atulewa had also recently completed a coaching course in Côte d’Ivoire, demonstrating his commitment to developing his expertise off the pitch.
However, he will not have the opportunity to put his new coaching qualifications into practice.
The talented striker’s career saw him rise through the ranks, beginning with Bayelsa United F.C., then joining Ocean Boys F.C., and later becoming a prominent player for Warri Wolves F.C.
Atulewa also proudly represented Nigeria on the international stage, competing as part of the Nigerian U-20 squad at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in the Netherlands.
Atulewa is now the third player from Nigeria’s U-20 team in 2005 to pass away, following the untimely deaths of Olufemi Adebayo and Isaac Promise.
His passing adds to a series of painful losses within the football community, leaving a legacy remembered by teammates, fans, and all who knew him.
