The body Christian Atsu, a professional soccer player from Ghana whose career took him to England’s Premier League and the World Cup, has been recovered from the rubble in southern Turkey Nearly two weeks ago, a strong earthquake in the country struck. His agent and club announced this Saturday. He was 31.
“It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to announce to all well wishers that sadly Christian Atsu’s body was recovered this morning,” Nana Sechere and Mr. Atsu’s agent, wrote on Twitter On Saturday. “My deepest condolences go to his family and loved ones.”
Herr Sechere stated Mr. Atsu Had been discovered in Hatay Province in southern TurkeyOne of the worst-hit areas in The earthquake.
Mr. AtsuHe was a member of the Turkish football club Hatayspor and had been missing since February 6, after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake. Turkey Syria. Just hours before the quake, he had scored his team’s winning goal in The match was against Kasimpasa from Istanbul.
The news was confirmed by his club, which said that he would be being returned to Ghana.
“We will not forget you, Atsu. Peace be upon you, beautiful person,” Hatayspor said in a statement Follow us on Twitter Saturday
There have been contradictory accounts about Mr. Atsu’s whereabouts after the earthquake, and earlier statements that he had been rescued had initially raised hopes that he had survived the earthquake.
Mr. Atsu, a member of Ghana’s World Cup team in 2014. He had spent most of his professional career in Europe, signing with Porto and Chelsea, as well as Newcastle United. He signed with Hatayspor in 2014.
Condolences poured in On Saturday, social media including from Newcastle UnitedIt is the Premier League FIFA, soccer’s world governing body. Ghana Football Association stated that weekend games would hold a moment of silence For Mr. Atsu.
“Ghana football has lost one of its finest personnel and ambassadors, one who will be difficult to replace,” Nana Akufo–Addo is the President of Ghana said on Twitter.
The club was desperate to find Mr. Atsu after the earthquake, Volkan Demirel, Hatayspor’s manager, had pleaded for aid.
“I thought the day of judgment had come. I immediately thought of my players,” Hurriyet is a Turkish newspaper that Mr. Demirel spoke about the time the earthquake struck.
“May God not cause such pain to anyone,” He concluded.
Over 45,000 people died. in The earthquake in Turkey According to statistics from Turkey and the United Nations the death toll will continue to climb.
