Saburi Olayinka Adeniji, a Nigerian footballer who played as a winger for English non-league side Kings Park Rangers has passed away.
Gatekeepers News reports that Adeniji has died after battling severe complications from a brain stem injury that kept him in a coma for more than three weeks.
The Halstead-based club confirmed that Adeniji was pronounced dead at Queen’s Hospital on Friday, following weeks of intensive medical care.
He had been rushed to the hospital on January 15 after his condition suddenly deteriorated, and doctors later declared him brain-dead due to the extent of the injury. Despite this, life support was compassionately maintained to allow time for his family to travel from Nigeria.
Adeniji is survived by his wife and four-year-old daughter, both based in Nigeria. As news of his critical condition spread, friends, teammates, and supporters launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds to help his family visit him in the UK. Although the appeal gained attention and support, his family arrived in the country on Saturday, a day after he had already been declared dead.
While the exact cause of the injury remains unclear, Kings Park Rangers first alerted the public to his medical situation on January 17 through a post on their Facebook page, urging fans and well-wishers to pray for his recovery. His condition, however, continued to decline despite medical efforts.
In a touching show of support, the club observed a minute’s silence before their league match against Henley Athletic on January 31, while Adeniji was still in a coma. The club officially announced his passing on Saturday, describing him as a committed player and a valued team member.
Adeniji featured in the Eastern Counties League Division One North, a semi-professional division in the English football system. His death comes months after former Arsenal youth player Billy Vigar died from a brain injury sustained during a non-league match in September, drawing renewed attention to safety concerns in grassroots football.
Tributes have continued to pour in from teammates, fans, and members of the wider football community, mourning the loss of a young player whose life and career ended tragically.
