By
Nigerian footballer and
former Torino striker, Akeem Omolade, 39, was found dead in his car in Italy
just days after complaining of pain in his legs.
Emergency services found him unresponsive in a
Peugeot in Sicily’s capital Palermo on Monday, June 13.
Initial examination showed no obvious external
injuries. Omolade’s family said the Kaduna-born player had complained of leg
pains days before.
The Nigerian represented the Maroons in Serie A,
Italy’s top flight, between 2001-2003, making five appearances in total.
Omolade also represented 11 other clubs in the
country, including Treviso, Novara, and Reggiana before his retirement in 2017.
Torino said in a statement: ‘President Urbano
Cairo and all of Torino Football Club sincerely share in the Omolade family’s
grief at the passing of our former player Akeem Omolade.
‘Signed from Treviso, he first played in our youth
side and then for the first team, making his Serie A debut against Inter Milan
on February 2, 2003.
‘The entire Torino family sends its deepest
sympathies to his loved ones, his parents, and his many friends.’
‘Omolade spoke out against racism after being
targeted by a group of the club’s ‘ultras’.
