Bobsam Elejiko

Bobsam 'Bob' Elejiko (18 August 1981 – 13 November 2011) was a Nigerian footballer. He played as a central defender for several domestic teams between 2000 and 2011 before his death on the field during a football match.

Bob Elejiko

Bobsam Elejiko with Westerlo
Personal information
Full name	Bobsam Elejiko
Date of birth	(1981-08-18)18 August 1981
Place of birth	Lagos, Nigeria
Date of death	13 November 2011(2011-11-13) (aged 30)
Place of death	Merksem, Belgium
Height	1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Centre back
Youth career
	Stationary Stores
1999–2000	Málaga
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2000–2001	Wacker Nordhausen
2001–2003	Turnhout	42	(0)
2003–2007	Westerlo	71	(2)
2007–2008	Royal Antwerp	32	(0)
2008	S.C. Beira-Mar
2009	Deinze
2009–2010	Red Star Waasland
2011	K. Merksem S.C.
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16:00, 18 August 2007 (UTC)

Career

During his career, spent almost exclusively in Belgium, Elejiko represented FSV Wacker 90 Nordhausen, K.V. Turnhout, K.V.C. Westerlo, Royal Antwerp FC, S.C. Beira-Mar, K.M.S.K. Deinze, K.V. Red Star Waasland and K. Merksem S.C..

In 2008, he had trials with FC Carl Zeiss Jena,^[1] Crewe Alexandra, Gillingham and RBC Roosendaal, but did not gain a contract with any club.

Death

Elejiko collapsed while playing a fifth-tier match with his team K. Merksem S.C. against F.C. Kaart, a team from Merksem, Antwerp, on 13 November 2011.^[2] Despite resuscitation attempts pitch side, Elejiko was pronounced dead and the match was abandoned. The cause was later determined to be a traumatic rupture of the aorta.^[3]