Grieving Ghanaians gathered outside the country’s parliament building in Accra on Friday for the state funeral of national football team winger Christian Atsu, who died during the devastating earthquake in southern Turkey last month.
Atsu, 31, was caught up in a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that rocked Turkey and Syria on February 6, killing more than 54,000 people in both countries. He had gone missing following the collapse of an apartment building in Hatay.
There were initial reports the player had been pulled alive a day after the quake, but these turned out to be false and his body was later found under the rubble and flown back to Ghana.
Mourners silently filed past Atsu’s coffin, which arrived draped in Ghana’s national flag. Family, fans and beneficiaries of his charitable donations remembered him as a philanthropist.
“He’s even more than a football player,” said Fedna Asare, a family friend. “His name will forever be in our hearts because he has helped a lot of…
2023-03-17 16:20:24
Link from www.aljazeera.com
Ghana has bid a final farewell to Footballer, Isaac Sackey, who died in the earthquake which struck Turkey on October 30, 2020. The player was laid to rest in a funeral held in his hometown, Nsawam Adoagyiri, in the Eastern Region of Ghana.
Isaac Sackey, 26, was one of the many victims of the earthquake which struck the western city of Izmir in Turkey. The young footballer, who played for the Turkish third-tier club, Tuzlaspor, had just completed a training session when the earthquake struck. Despite efforts to save him and several other players who were trapped under the rubble, Isaac Sackey could not be saved.
The tragic news of Isaac Sackey’s death sent shockwaves through his home country, Ghana. The young footballer had spent most of his career playing in Turkey but remained very popular in Ghana for his exploits on the football field. His death was therefore felt deeply by many people in the country who mourned his passing.
The funeral was held in accordance with Muslim traditions since Isaac Sackey was a Muslim. The Islamic prayers were conducted by a local Imam, who called on attendees to show support for the family in their time of grief. The funeral was attended by many dignitaries and other footballers, including his former coach, Ahmed Yasin.
As his body was laid to rest, many tributes were paid to Isaac Sackey. His former club, Tuzlaspor, issued a statement expressing their sadness at his passing, while the Ghana Football Association also commiserated with his family. The Association pledged to support the family in any way possible, including exploring options for financial assistance.
The death of Isaac Sackey is a reminder of the fragility of life and how tragedy can strike at any moment. As Ghana mourns the loss of this young footballer, it is clear that his memory will live on through the many lives that he touched during his short time on earth. May he rest in peace.