TRAGIC: GoFundMe set up for family of Tipperary soccer player who died during training session

A minute’s silence was observed at all North Tipperary & District League games last weekend in memory of Cloughjordan FC player Chinenyenwa “Chiboy” Nwabufoh, who died suddenly during training.

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Mr Nwabufoh, aged 30, collapsed during a session in Moneygall last Thursday week.

Members of the local community, including volunteers from the Dunkerrin-Barna-Moneygall Defibrillator Group, rushed to his aid but efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.

Originally from Nigeria, he had been living in Cloughjordan and recently joined the local club.

He had attended training sessions but had not yet played a competitive match.

Known by his middle name Lotanna and nicknamed “Chiboy” by teammates, he was engaged to Róisín, a 23-year-old student from Limerick. The couple had a young son and were expecting another child.

Friend Soloman Anyafulu said his death left “family, friends and community in deep shock and heartbreak.”

He has set up a GoFundMe page to support the family, describing Lotanna as “a devoted father, a loving fiancé, and the only son of his parents in Nigeria,” with dreams of marrying next year and raising his children in Ireland.

The fundraiser, titled Help Bring Lotanna Home and Support His Young Family, aims to return his remains to Nigeria for burial and provide support to his fiancée, children and parents.

Cloughjordan’s fixture against Grange United on Sunday was postponed, while Moneygall FC cancelled all activity at its grounds over the weekend.