Two referees who are members of Nigeria Referees Association (NRA) in Oyo State have died. The two referees are; Rafiu Opeyemi and Ibikunle Abiodun.
Opeyemi, who until his death was a member of Ona Ara Referees Society. Opeyemi lost his life on Saturday in a motor accident in Osu, Osun State while returning from Abuja where he had participated in a national fitness test.
Those who sustained injuries during the accident include: Oni Ebenezer Segun, Ajadi Odunayo and Amos, are NRA members from Ogun State Council. Abiodun from Akinyele Referees Society died earlier on Friday following an illness.
The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Oyo State chapter confirmed the death of the duo.
SWAN in a statement issued on recently condoled with the state branch of the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA) and the football fraternity over the sudden death of the two referees.
SWAN in the statement signed by its Chairman, Niyi Alebiosu and Secretary, Adewale Tijani, commiserated with the families of the departed referees.
The duo in the statement made available to journalists urged the NRA and sports administrators to immortalise the duo.
SWAN said, “Oyo SWAN calls on the NRA and sports administrators in the state to immortalize the two departed referees for future generations to know their contributions to the development of the game in the state.
“The Association prayed for the families of the deceased to be given the fortitude to bear these irreparable losses their deaths signify.
“Oyo SWAN also prayed for speedy recovery for two other referees who sustained injuries in the fatal accident which claimed the life of Mr Rafiu Kazeem Opeyemi last Saturday, Mr Segun Oni and Mr Ajadi Odunayo”.
