COSUA mourns Ghana footballer Christian Atsu who died in Turkish earthquake
The Coalition of Supporters Unions of Africa (COSUA) has expressed its condolences to the family and friends of former Ghana football Christian Atsu.
In a statement signed by its Founder and President, Sarfo Abebrese, COSUA, expressed its deep sorrow at the loss of the young and talented ex-Blacks Stars player who turned out for the likes of Chelsea and Newcastle in the English Premier League while in his prime.
Abebrese wished his nation, the entire football fraternity, and especially his family, divine consolation.
“When we all jumped to celebrate that sublime goal you scored with that final kick of yours in that final minute of the game, little did we know that the heap of all your teammates falling over you as you lay on the field in a jubilant mood, was going to be a symbolic replication of the tragic event of that night,” read part of the statement.
Atsu went missing after the magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit Turkey and Syria on February 6, 2023.
His body was found 12 days later.
His remains have been repatriated back to his home country Ghana on Sunday.
“The remains were accompanied by his family and Ghana’s Ambassador to Türkiye, H.E. Francisca onboard a Turkish airlines flight,” a government statement read in part.
I was at the house of our brother Christian Atsu, to commiserate with them. Rest in the bosom of the lord my brother . pic.twitter.com/egldhjmpfu
— ASAMOAH GYAN (@ASAMOAH_GYAN3) February 21, 2023
The attacker has been representing Turkish side Hatayspor in Turkey’s Süper Lig when the accident happened.
Atsu was part of the Ghana’s national team that played in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations final, while he also represented the Black Stars at the Brazil World Cup in 2014.
“When he made his debut, there was talk of a nickname of Ghana’s Messi. Those who knew him were talking of a young Ghanaian player who could potentially become one of the best African players ever,” Ghana sports broadcaster Michael Oti Adjei said in an interview.
The earthquake and aftershocks in Southern Turkey and Northern Syria are known to have killed more than 40,000 people.
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