The physique of Ghana soccer participant Christian Atsu, who was discovered lifeless in his collapsed house constructing within the Turkey earthquake, has been repatriated.
Atsu’s stays arrived within the Ghanaian capital of Accra late Sunday, mentioned Ghana Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, who led a authorities delegation to obtain the physique. Atsu’s physique was carried dwelling in a casket on a Turkish Airlines airplane and was accompanied by members of his household and the Ghana ambassador to Turkey, the nation’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs mentioned.
“This loss is a really painful one and this can be a unhappy day for Ghana,” Bawumia mentioned. “We all prayed and prayed, we hoped towards hope for every single day that handed, however God is aware of finest.”
Atsu’s physique was discovered within the rubble of a luxurious 12-story constructing within the southern Turkish metropolis of Antakya on Saturday, almost two weeks after the devastating earthquake that has left greater than 44,000 individuals lifeless in Turkey and neighbouring Syria.
Reports emerged a day after the earthquake that Atsu had been rescued from the rubble, was alive and had been despatched to the hospital, however they had been mistaken.
The 31-year-old Atsu, who performed for Premier League groups Chelsea and Newcastle, had joined Turkish membership Hatayspor final yr and scored the profitable aim in a league recreation on Feb. 5, hours earlier than the devastating earthquake struck within the pre-dawn hours of Feb. 6.
Hatayspor sporting director Taner Savut additionally lived in the identical house constructing and was reported lacking similtaneously Atsu. Savut has nonetheless not been discovered.
Bawumia promised that Atsu could be given a becoming funeral and mentioned his dying was a blow for the individuals of Ghana. Atsu performed greater than 60 occasions for his nation after making his debut on the age of 20 in 2012.
Atsu was additionally remembered with moments of silence and different tributes at soccer video games in England and elsewhere this weekend. At his former membership Newcastle, followers held up placards together with his picture. An picture of him was put up on an enormous display at Chelsea’s recreation towards Southampton earlier than kickoff.
Ghana midfielder Mohammed Kudus had “R.I.P Atsu” written on a white T-shirt below his workforce shirt and revealed the message after scoring a aim for Dutch membership Ajax in a recreation on Sunday.
The Ghanaian soccer affiliation ordered moments of silence to be noticed at each skilled recreation within the West African nation on Saturday in honour of Atsu.
