The former striker Chelsea and also from Porto, Christian Atsu was found dead amidst the rubble of the building where he lived, in Turkey, this Saturday morning. The former player is yet another victim of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that devastated part of the country and Syria earlier this month, on February 6th.
Atsu was defending Hatayspor, a local club. The team even disclosed that the former athlete had been rescued alive on February 7, the day after the tragedy. However, shortly afterwards, he returned to report that he was still missing.
The Ghanaian, curiously, was about to leave the Turkish team a few days before the earthquake, as revealed by the president of Hatayspor himself. He, however, was reinstated in the group and received new opportunities, even scoring the winning goal in the match against Kasimpasa, in stoppage time, a day before the incident.
Atsu, who had just turned 31, was revealed by Porto and also played for Rio Ave, Chelsea, Newcastle, Malaga, Vitesse, Everton, Bournemouth and Al Raed, before landing in Turkish football.
Hatayspor, in an official statement, regretted the death of the former player and stated that the body will be transported to Ghana, where the funeral will take place. The Federation of the country, which Atsu defended in the world Cup 2014, also paid tributes, as well as Chelsea and other English clubs.
Sorry for your loss.
The funeral of our football player Christian Atsu, who lost his life under the collapse, is on his way to be sent to his hometown Ghana. We will not forget you, Atsu. Peace be upon you, beautiful person. There are no words to describe our sadness. Rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/2CSVfwfEuR
— Hatayspor (@Hatayspor_FK) February 18, 2023
The Ghana Football Association has received the sad news of the recovery of the body of Christian Atsu from the rubble following the earthquake that struck Southern and Central Turkey on Monday, February 6, 2023.
May his Soul Rest in Peace! 🖤🕊️
📰: https://t.co/iJ38HQWPtv pic.twitter.com/6gjdkxlvzy
— Ghana Football Association (@ghanafaofficial) February 18, 2023
Everyone at Chelsea Football Club is devastated to learn of the tragic passing of our former player, Christian Atsu. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends.
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 18, 2023
understand the tragedy
In the early hours of February 6, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake devastated Turkey and Syria and left more than 40,000 dead, including Eyüp Türkaslan, goalkeeper for Malatyaspor, a club in the second division of the Turkish Championship. He was 28 years old.
Turkey’s sports minister, Mehmet Kasapoglu, has decreed the immediate suspension of all sports competitions in the country.
Shortly after the announcement of the stoppage of the Turkish Championship, the country’s main clubs began to mobilize to collect donations and offer shelter to those affected by the earthquake.
Source: Gazetaesportiva
Kingston is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.
