Former Nigerian national team player Promise Isaac dies

By: The Associated Press Posted: 12:32 PM CDT Thursday, Oct. 3, 2019 Last Modified: 4:59 PM CDT Thursday, Oct. 3, 2019

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AUSTIN, Texas - Promise Isaac, who captained Nigeria to the 2008 Olympic silver medal and scored 79 goals in 11 professional seasons in Turkey, died after collapsing at his apartment gym in Austin, Texas, authorities said Thursday. He was 31.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 03/10/2019 (2555 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

AUSTIN, Texas – Promise Isaac, who captained Nigeria to the 2008 Olympic silver medal and scored 79 goals in 11 professional seasons in Turkey, died after collapsing at his apartment gym in Austin, Texas, authorities said Thursday. He was 31.

Bold was playing for the Austin Bold of the USL and the team said he died Wednesday night. Police said authorities were called after a report of a deceased person at Isaac’s apartment building but further details were not available. Austin Bold owner Bobby Epstein said Isaac collapsed at the apartment gym and no foul play was suspected.

Isaac played for Nigeria at the 2005 World Youth Championship and captained the Under-23 national team that lost the 2008 Olympic final 1-0 to Lionel Messi and Argentina. He also appeared in three matches for Nigeria’s senior national team.

CORRECTS THE DATE TO AUG. 13, NOT AUG. 12, AS ORIGINALLY SENT - - FILE - In this Aug. 13, 2008, file photo, Nigeria's Promise Isaac, left, celebrates with his teammates after scoring against the United States during a 2008 Olympics first round soccer match in Beijing. Promise Isaac, who captained Nigeria to the 2008 Olympic silver medal and scored 79 goals in 11 professional seasons in Turkey, died late Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2019, after collapsing at his apartment gym in Austin, Texas, authorities said. He was 31. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File)

Isaac played for seven clubs in Turkey, appearing in more than 350 matches. He spent a season in Saudi Arabia before signing with Austin Bold, where he had three goals in 20 matches this season.

“The greatest loss a team can suffer is not on the scoreboard, it’s the death of a fellow teammate,” Epstein said. “On behalf of the Bold organization, we wish his wife, children and family strength and peace as they struggle to cope with his death.”