Tragedy struck the football world as Nigerian defender, David Faramola Oniya on Saturday was pronounced dead after collapsing on the pitch during a friendly match between his Malaysian club T-Team and Kelantan.

Tragedy struck the football world as Nigerian defender, David Faramola Oniya on Saturday was pronounced dead after collapsing on the pitch during a friendly match between his Malaysian club T-Team and Kelantan. David Oniya

According to local media the 30-year-old T-Team skipper collapsed three minutes into the match in Kota Bharu and was taken to a hospital.

T-Team CEO Syahrizan Mohd Zain said Oniya did not receive medical treatment quick enough.

He said: "T-Team captain David Oniya died after collapsing on the pitch during a friendly in Malaysia on Saturday. He suffered a heart attack, but it could have been a different story had the ambulance driver was alert, he told the New Straits Times.

"The driver was at the stands watching the game when Oniya suddenly collapsed and our defender was deprived of oxygen for several minutes."

Syahrizan said the match was called off after 60 minutes after they were informed by the hospital that Oniya had died.

"He was pronounced dead at the hospital about 30 minutes later,' he told the Star newspaper.

Oniya had joined the Malaysian club this season after spells in Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.