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Tag: Christian Atsu

  • How Ghana held state funeral for footballer, Christian Atsu (PHOTOS)

    How Ghana held state funeral for footballer, Christian Atsu (PHOTOS)

    Hundreds of people gathered outside State House in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, on Friday for the funeral of footballer, Christian Atsu, who died last month in the earthquake in Turkey.

    Ghana’s president, Nana Akufo-Addo, was also present.

    Atsu’s widow, Marie-Claire Rupio, was overcome with emotion as she paid tribute to her husband.

    The 31-year-old spent most of his career playing in the English Premier League for clubs including Chelsea, Newcastle and Everton.

    Ghana’s Minister for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Hamid, said: “The painful loss of our brother, Christian Atsu has undoubtedly created indelible imprints on the minds and hearts of compatriots, team-mates, friends, families and the nation.

    “The government and Ghanaians in general will continue to remember Christian Atsu as one of the committed, dedicated and results-oriented youth and a football star of our time.”

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Atsu was part of the Ghana squad at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and was player of the tournament at the 2015 African Cup of Nations, scoring two goals to help Ghana to the final, where they lost in a penalty shootout to Ivory Coast.

    Atsu began his career with Porto, also spending a season on loan at Rio Ave. In 2013, he was signed by Chelsea for £3.5 million, who subsequently loaned him to Vitesse Arnhem, Everton, AFC Bournemouth and Málaga.

    After spending the 2016–17 season on loan at Newcastle United, he completed a permanent transfer to the club in May 2017.

    Following the end of his four-year contract he played for Al Raed in Saudi Arabia and Hatayspor in Turkey, where he died in the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake at age 31.

    See photos of the funeral below

    How Ghana held state funeral for footballer, Christian Atsu (PHOTOS) How Ghana held state funeral for footballer, Christian Atsu (PHOTOS)

    How Ghana held state funeral for footballer, Christian Atsu (PHOTOS)

  • Remains of Black Stars player, Christian Atsu return to Ghana

    Remains of Black Stars player, Christian Atsu return to Ghana

    The remains of former Ghana international footballer, Christian Atsu, who died in a devastating earthquake in Turkey, are being flown home, the country’s foreign ministry said on Sunday.

    According to Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, the remains are accompanied by his family and Ghana’s Ambassador to Turkey on a Turkish airlines flight.

    The remains will arrive in Accra at 7:40 p.m. today Sunday, 19th February, 2023, the ministry disclosed in a statement.

    The statement reads: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration hereby informs that the Government of Ghana is making arrangements to receive the mortal remains of the late Christian Atsu, a former Black Stars player.

    “The remains will be accompanied by his family and Ghana’s Ambassador to Türkiye on a Turkish airlines flight and will arrive in Accra at 7:40 p.m. today Sunday, 19th February, 2023.

    “The remains will be received at the Kotoka International Airport by the family, the Ghana Football Association (GFA), and the Government upon its arrival from Istanbul, Türkiye.

    “Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family, and we pray for the eternal repose of the soul of Christian Atsu”.

  • Turkey Earthquake: Football world mourns death of Ghanaian player, Christian Atsu

    Turkey Earthquake: Football world mourns death of Ghanaian player, Christian Atsu

    Tributes have continued to  pour in for  former Chelsea and Newcastle footballer, Christian Atsu who was found dead in the rubble days after the Turkey earthquake.

    Atsu’s body was pulled from under the rubble of his home in Hatay, southern Turkey, 12 days after the earthquake rocked the region, as confirmed by his agent Murat Uzunmehmet in a statement.

    The 31-year-old had been missing since his building collapsed when the earthquake struck on February 6.

    “Atsu’s lifeless body was found under the rubble. Currently, more items are still being taken out. His phone was also found,” Uzunmehmet told reporters.

    Tributes have poured in from all corners after the news of the former Chelsea and Newcastle United player’s death emerged.

    Atsu was a Chelsea player between 2013 and 2017 having signed from Porto. He did not make a competitive appearance for our men’s first team having spent his seasons as a Blue out on loan, although he featured in some pre-season games.

    During those years, the Ghanaian international was named the Player of the Tournament at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, also scoring the Goal of the Tournament as Ghana finished runners up.

    His loans took him to Vitesse, Everton, Bournemouth, Malaga and Newcastle before he was transferred permanently to St James’ Park.

    He moved to Turkey to play for Hatayspor last year.

    Chelsea sends our heartfelt condolences to Christian’s family and friends and to all those affected by the earthquake tragedy.

  • SAD: Ghanaian footballer, Christian Atsu found dead in Turkey

    SAD: Ghanaian footballer, Christian Atsu found dead in Turkey

    Ghanaian footballer Christian Atsu has been found dead under the building where he lived in southern Turkey, following last week’s massive earthquake.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the ex-Chelsea winger’s Turkish agent made the disclosure on Saturday.

    “Atsu’s lifeless body was found under the rubble,” Murat Uzunmehmet told reporters in Hatay, where the athlete’s body was found.

    “Currently, more items are still being taken out. His phone was also found,” Uzunmehmet added.

    Atsu had been scheduled to fly out of southern Turkey hours before the quake.

    But Hatayspor’s manager said on Friday the Ghanaian opted to stay with the club after scoring the game-winning goal in a Feb. 5 Super Lig match.

  • Turkey Earthquake: Christian Atsu is still missing – Club doctor, Gurbey Kahveci

    Turkey Earthquake: Christian Atsu is still missing – Club doctor, Gurbey Kahveci

    Another news making the rounds have it that Ghanaian and Hatyaspor of Turkey forward, Christian Atsu is still missing.

    Hatayspor club doctor, Gurbey Kahveci noted that Atsu and one other player are still missing.

    Savut Taner, Hatayspors sporting director, was among those buried in the rubble days after the disaster.

    Over 12,000 people have been confirmed killed in a devastating earthquake  that happened across Turkey and Syria.

    Recall that the club’s vice-president, Mustafa Ozat had claimed that the player had been pulled from the wreckage.

    The Ghana FA also came out with a claim that the former Newcastle and Chelsea winger had been found.

    However, Hatayspor club doctor, Gurbey Kahveci, and Atsu’s agent, Nana Sechere said the player has not been located.

    Kahveci said: “When we heard the news that he was taken to Dortyol Hospital, we especially went and looked but he was not there.

    “At the moment, we accept that Savut Taner and Christian Atsu were not found unfortunately.

    “We are doing everything we can to locate Christian,” said Sechere.

    “As you can imagine, this continues to be a devastating time for his family,” he added.

    Atsu scored his side winning goal on Sunday before being caught up on MNonday in the Earthquake.

  • Turkey Earthquake: Ghanaian Player, Christian Atsu found alive

    Turkey Earthquake: Ghanaian Player, Christian Atsu found alive

    Following the  twin earthquakes that rocked Turkiye, Syria on Monday, Ghanaian forward, Christian Atsu has reportedly been found alive and brought out of the rubble.

    Atsu had scored a winning goal for his Turkish club side Hatayspor in the match against Kasimpasa on Sunday evening in the Turkish league.

    The forward left Newcastle during the summer of 2021 after making 121 appearances for the club.

    However, the 31-year-old Ghana international,  was said to be missing after team-mates and members of the club’s technical staff had reportedly been pulled from the rubble but he remained trapped.

    .With their ex-player unable to be located, Atsu’s former clubs Newcastle and Chelsea took to Twitter to call for prayers and support for the winger.

    However, Portuguese outlet A Bola reports that the 31-year-old has been rescued alive with injuries to his right foot and breathing difficulties. He’s been taken to the hospital for medical attention.

    Ghanaian journalist Saddick Adams also reported that he was in contact with Atsu’s management team and confirmed the winger was safe.

    “I’m still in contact with Christian Atsu’s management. A teammate of Atsu has confirmed to them, the player has been found and taken to the hospital. They expect an official statement from his club soon. Prayers still with him and everyone. Trust God he is safe,” he tweeted.

    A post on the club’s official Twitter account said: “Praying for some positive news, @ChristianAtsu20.”

  • Hamstring injury ends 2019 AFCON run for Ghana’s Atsu

    Christian Atsu has been ruled out of the rest of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with a hamstring tear, Ghanaian team officials said on Tuesday in Suez.
    He has returned to England for treatment at his club, Newcastle United, hours before the Black stars were due to complete their Group F campaign against Guinea Bissau in Suez.
    Atsu went off just 15 minutes into Ghana’s goalless draw against Cameroon in Ismailia on Saturday and doctors have said he is unable to play the rest of the tournament.
    Meanwhile, Guinea’s Naby Keita has gone back to Liverpool for treatment on thigh and shin injuries sustained against Nigeria.
    He made his first full comeback after the adductor injury that left him side-lined for two months, including the 2018/2019 UEFA Champions League final match.
    However, Keita is expected back in Egypt for the knockout round.