Emeteole, a former coach of Heartland, El Kanemi Warriors and EnuguRangers has been battling throat cancer for a long time.

According to reports, the former Nigeria international died in the early hours of Wednesday, June 21 in an Indian hospital.

The late coach had travelled to India to undergo a corrective surgery for the throat cancer. He reportedly died before the surgery.

learnt that the late coach was bedridden for six months before his death and had difficulties in breathing and swallowing and had a pipe inserted in his throat to aid him.

Nicknamed the Caterpillar, Emeteole played for the Super Eagles at the 1976 Africa Nations Cup in Ethiopia and served as assistant coach for the Golden Eaglets in 1985, and Flying Eagles and Super Eagles.

Emetole played for Heartland before returning as a coach. He also managed El kanemi Warriors and Enugu Rangers.

Before his death, he received donations from the Nigerian football community to raise N6m ($11,000) for the surgery in India.

Enyimba coach Gbenga Ogunbote, General Manager of Shooting Stars Rasheed Balogun and Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side MFMFC all made donations to Emoteole.

Super Eagles defender Kenneth Omeruo donated N2m.