Footballers shocked by Oniya's on-pitch death

Oniya (right) in action against Sabah during a Premier League match in April. - Bernama

PETALING JAYA: The sudden death of Nigerian football player David Faramola Oniya during Sunday's friendly football match between T-Team and Kelantan has shocked everyone - both team mates and rivals alike.

"The game had just started for about two or three minutes. Suddenly, he collapsed," Kelantan player Amiridzwan Taj Tajuddin told The Star Online when contacted via text message.

Everyone was "shocked and sad" over the tragedy, explained Amiridzwan, 29, who had just signed for the club during the March transfer window.

Nigerian football player David Faramola Oniya of Premier League side T-Team died after he collapsed on the field during a friendly game against Super League side Kelantan on Saturday.

T-Team chief executive officer Syahrizan Mohd Zain said the centre-back collapsed after barely three minutes of play at the Sultan Mohd IV Stadium and was rushed to the Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II nearby.

"He was pronounced dead at the hospital about 30 minutes later," said Syahrizan from Kota Baru.

He said the 30-year-old Oniya, playing in his first season with the Premier League outfit had barely touched the ball and they were surprised to see him fall to the ground.

At around 10pm, T-Team FC's Facebook page uploaded a photo of defender Faizal Mohamad who was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance after a head injury.

However, Amirizdwan said that Faizal was not in serious condition.

26-year-old Faizal was a former Terengganu FA player and joined T-Team in 2013.