Khaberni - A Burundian football player died on the evening of Saturday, December 20/December, after falling unconscious during his participation in an official match within the second division league, in an incident that caused widespread controversy in the country's sports circles.
Sporting sources reported that the player, Igiheraniza Emy Girik, a midfielder for the "Lake Hornets" club, collapsed during his team's match against LLB Amasipiri Never Give Up, held at the National Technical Center in Bujumbura.
Despite the swift intervention of the medical team on the field and his urgent transfer to the hospital, he passed away during the transfer.
For its part, the Burundian Football Federation issued a statement offering condolences to the player's family and club, without specifying the exact causes of death, simply referring to opening a follow-up to the incident.
In the same context, local media, including the African Public Radio, quoted eyewitnesses saying that the player might have accidentally swallowed a coin that he had kept in his mouth during the match, causing serious complications.
This coin, according to those testimonies, is related to what is locally known as "amulets" or "talismans," which are practices believed to still exist in some football circles in the country.
Although the player had previously denied engaging in these practices, the incident has brought back the controversy regarding their continuation and potential risks to the players' safety. So far, no official confirmations from sports or health authorities regarding the final causes of death, awaiting the results of medical and administrative investigations.
