10 Footballers Who Died from Their Injuries While Playing for Their Club Teams

Football, also known as association football or soccer is one of the most-highly attended and watched game in the world. Despite it being not a dangerous game, frequent injuries occur during matches from minor to severe.

In rare occasions, footballers die in a football pitch, or a few hours later after being rushed to a hospital.

The following are some of the sad reported cases of footballers who died while active in their profession - playing for their club teams.

Chineme Martins, 23, a Nigerian footballer collapsed during the second halftime of Matchday 23 of the Nigerian Professional Football League as his team, Nasarawa United, was battling against Katsina United.

According to Eche Amos, the team's Media Officer, Martins was standing when he suddenly fell unconscious on his right side. Medics from both teams tried every means of reviving him but all failed.

He was rushed to Dalhatu-Araf Specialist Hospital in Lafia. He died a few hours later at the hospital.

Cause of death: Not yet revealed

2. Radhakrishnan Dhanarajan (Died: 29/12/2019)

Radhakrishnan Dhanarajan, 39, a former defender of Mohun Bayan and East Bengal died when playing Sevens match in Perintalmana, Kerara.

Dhanarajan collapsed midway during the game as his team FC Perintalmana was playing against Sastia Medicals FC Thrissur. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.

The defender was playing when all of a sudden he lifted up his left hand and fell down.

Cause of death: Cardiac arrest

Papy Fatty, 28, a former midfielder of Biduest Wits, died 15 minutes after the match between his team, Malanti Chiefs, and Green Mamba had started at Killarney Stadium in Swaziland.

He was rushed to the hospital where he was later declared dead.

Faty had been advised on several occasions by doctors not to play due his heart condition.

Prior to the fateful day, Faty had been relieved by Biduest Wits and his contract terminated by Real Kings of South Africa due to his heart problem.

4. Luyanda Ntshangase (May 4, 2018)

Luyanda Ntshangase, 21, a South African footballer was struck by a bolt of lightning during a match in KwaZulu-Natal and rushed to a hospital where he was placed in an induced coma. He was later pronounced dead after succumbing to his injuries.

The Maritzburg United striker was among three players who were hit by the bolt of lightning.

Bruno Boban, 25, a Croatian football player died less than 15 minutes when the match between his team, NK Marsonia, and Slavonija Pozega had started.

The team's forwarder died from heart failure when a ball hit from an opponent player at a short range smashed on his chest.

He collapsed seven seconds following the ball's impact.

The medical personnel who attended to him failed to resuscitate him.

6. Jeanine Christelle Djomnang (May 9, 2016)

Jeanine Christelle Djomnang, 26, a goalkeeper for Femina Stars Ebolowa died while being rushed into a nearby hospital.

She died during a warm-up session as her team prepared to take on Louves Minproff Yaounde in the Cameroon Elite League.

Djomnang had complained of chest pains during the warm-up before the match between the two teams began.

Stephanie Petrovski, 18, was struck by a lightning during a training session in Malaysia. He was rushed to a hospital and admitted in intensive care unit where he later died.

His team mate, Muhd Afiq Azuan, 21, who had also been struck by the lightning regained consciousness and his condition stabilized.

The incident occurred when the lightning bolt struck the goalposts he and his teammate were standing next to.

"...Scans revealed the teenager had cerebral Hypoxia Ischemia, caused by a lack of oxygen supplied to the brain," states Daily Mail.

Petrovski who was playing for Melaka United was signed in the club the previous year from NSW Premier League club, Sydney Olympic.

"He was signed to the fifth-placed Malaysian Premier League club as a local player with a three-year deal after receiving his citizenship," states Daily Mail.

8. Emanuel Ortega (Died: May 14, 2015)

Emanuel Ortega, 21, an Argentina football player died two weeks at a hospital after sustaining a head injury. A part of his skull was fractured when he crashed his head against a concrete perimeter wall during a match in Argentina.

"Ortega, who played for San Martin de Burzaco in Argentina's fifth tier, went shoulder-to-shoulder with a player from Juventud Unida but crashed head first into a concrete wall just a meter from the touchline," states The Independent. According to The Independent, Ortega had emergency surgery on a double skull fracture.

Choirul Huda, 38, a goalkeeper for Persda Lamongan, died in a hospital after colliding with his team mate, a defender, when charging for a ball in the penalty box.

The impact led to cardiac arrest and according to the team's website, the 'traumatic collision' resulted to the possibility of the player suffering from a chest, neck and head trauma.

"Video shows Huda lunging for the ball as his upper body collides with Rodrigues' knee. Huda lost consciousness on the field and was taken off on a stretcher," states USA Today.

The incident occurred late in the first half when his team was playing against Semen Padang.

"...the collision involved the chest and lower jaw, caused Huda to stop breathing and go into cardiac arrest," notes USA Today.

10. Peter Biaksangzuala (October 2014)

Peter Biaksangzuala, 23, attempted a backflip (backward somersault) after scoring an equaliser goal for his team, Bethlehem Vengthlang, against Chanmari West in the 62nd minute when he landed awkwardly on his neck.

He was rushed to a nearby hospital, Anzawl Civil Hospital, where a CT scan showed the midfielder's spinal cord had been damaged following the fall. His condition deteriorated due to the severity of the injury on his spine which led to his demise.