David GOMBE
Six time Uganda Premier league champions Vipers SC have on Thursday, 27th February held Dua prayers for the deceased Nigerian forward Abubaker Lawal.
Lawal passed away on Monday morning with Police Preliminary reports indicating that he allegedly fell from the balcony of Voice Shopping Mall in Bwebajja where he had gone to meet his Tanzanian friend Omary Naima.
Vipers SC President Dr.Lawrence Mulindwa has hailed the late Lawal for his professionalism.
“Lawal’s death has united the football fraternity in the country, he was a true definition of a professional player. We had an icon, a great and disciplined player. He was a man of high integrity and contributed massively to Vipers SC. He loved and portrayed Vipers back in Nigeria.” Said Mulindwa
Mulindwa also demanded Police and other security departments to make thorough investigations into the uncertainty regarding Lawal’s tragic death.
“I call upon the Police and other departments to carry out proper investigations, we may not be able to bring back Lawal but we want to know the cause.”
Mulindwa also confirmed that the club will cater for all expenses regarding the repatriation of Lawal’s body to his home area in Sokoto, Nigeria. Lawal’s body will be repatriated to Nigeria on Sunday, 2nd March, 2024.
Lawal joined Vipers in July, 2022 from Rwanda’s AS Kigali and won the 2022/23 elusive Cup double with the Venoms.
He is remembered for scoring Vipers first ever CAF Champions League group stage goal when they played out to a 1-1 stalemate with Moroccan giants Raja Casablanca on March 18, 2023 at Kitende.
Lawal last featured for the six time Uganda Premier league against KCCA FC when he replaced Moses Waiswa in the 85th minute at Lugogo and was unused substitute in the Stanbic Uganda Cup victory over Mbarara City at Kitende.
This season, Lawal had made eight league appearances for Vipers.
He joined the Kitende based side in July 2022 from Rwanda’s AS Kigali where he had spent two seasons.
Lawal had also previously played in the Nigerian Premier League with Kano Pillars FC, Wikki Tourists FC and FC Nasarawa
