El-Shammah Inusa, former coach of Nassarawa Football Club, Jigawa Golden Stars and EFCC FC, has died at 65 after fighting a kidney complication.
Ali Akumza, a cousin of Inusa, confirmed the death and described the coach’s demise as a “great loss’’ to the family.
A group of concerned coaches, who also confirmed his death on Sunday, in an interview with the news Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos, said Inusa died at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).
The group spokesman, Mr Michael Jatau, Goalkeepers Trainer with EFCC FC, who lamented the sudden death of their colleague, described Inusa’s death as sports loss.
“We consider Inusa’s death as a football sporting loss, considering his endeared contributions to the game of football while alive.
“His death came as rude shock to us because we so hopeful that God in infinite mercy, would heal him of the ailment and allow us continue with our fraternity and the game of football but to no avail.
“We believe God, who knows better, allowed it for a purpose and to His glory, which we as mortal can’t question, ’’ the group.
Jatau expressed regret that the money allegedly owed five of them (coaches) by a state government was not released before his death.
He said NFF Arbitration Committee, in 2015, awarded some money to them, including the late coach.
He said: “we were hoping that our cry to the Federal Government for help to save his life while in the hospital could ginger the government to pay us that money to give him the best treatment but to no avail.’’
“His name and contribution to football will remain indelible in our hearts as coaches and friends of his, ’’ Jatau said.
Akumza, his cousin, said: “we spent a lot of money, some borrowed, all in the effort to save his life, yet he died. It was the lord’s doing even though we are pained.
“Our pain most came from the fact that he has some money with the state government, which wasn’t released to help him treat himself but died leaving it behind, ’’
NAN reports that Inusa left behind two wives and a daughter.
It could recall that the group of football coaches, had appealed to the Federal Government to assist and save Inusa’s life when they paid a visit to him while critically ill and on admission at the JUTH.
Jatau had regretted that Inusa was lying helpless while he was being owed a huge sum of money for his services.
Inusa has been buried in his home town, Wamba, in Nassarawa State, according to Islamic rites. (NAN)