RankaNero

Open the menu Sports | Turkey-Syria Earthquake Funeral held for footballer Christian Atsu killed in Turkey quake Family, fans and beneficiaries of Christian Atsu’s charitable donations remembered the 31-year-old as a philanthropist. Published On 17 Mar 2023 17 Mar 2023 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. KEEP READING list of 4 items list 1 of 4 Ghanaian footballer Atsu’s body found under Turkey quake rubble list 2 of 4 Middle East round-up: Panic, fear as new quakes hit Turkey, Syria list 3 of 4 Confusion over footballer Christian Atsu’s safety in Turkey list 4 of 4 Christian Atsu pulled alive from Turkey quake rubble: Report end of list 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 people.” Ghana international Atsu was found in Turkey's Hatay province Ghana footballer Atsu’s body was found in Turkey’s Hatay province [File: Ozan Kose/AFP] Atsu, 31, spent four seasons at Chelsea before a permanent transfer to Newcastle in 2017. He signed in September for Turkish Super Lig side Hatayspor, based in Hatay, near the epicentre of the earthquake. He won the last of his 60 Ghana national caps in September 2019. Atsu had been scheduled to fly out of southern Turkey hours before the quake but the Ghanaian had opted to stay with the club after scoring the winning goal in a February 5 Super Lig match. It was the last of his 33 career goals for Hatayspor. Atsu’s older brother and twin sister were present at the site when his body was recovered, Ghana’s foreign ministry said. A tribute was held for Atsu on February 18, attended by his widow Marie-Claire Rupio and their three children, at St James’ Park before Newcastle’s Premier League match against Liverpool. “There are no words to describe our sadness,” tweeted his Turkish top-flight club in homage to him. “We will not forget you, Atsu. Peace be upon you, beautiful person.” He previously played for his national team, the Black Stars. Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo said, “Football has lost one of its finest ambassadors, one who will be difficult to replace.”

Who has the better striker

what a night that made very player , fans, happy

Carabao cup final

Predicting on who is going to win the game

PSG and Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi faces criminal investigation Paris St-Germain and Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi is facing a criminal investigation after an allegation of rape was made against him. Hakimi denies an allegation made by a 24-year-old woman that he raped her at his home in Paris on 25 February. The player’s lawyer said Hakimi was the victim of “attempted racketeering”. The Nanterre prosecution office said on Friday that Hakimi has been placed under police monitoring and was banned from contact with the alleged victim. According to his lawyer, Fanny Colin, Hakimi, 24, “firmly denies all the accusations against him” and welcomes the investigation because “he finally has the possibility to defend himself”. “The club supports the player, who has firmly denied the accusations and trusts the justice system,” PSG said in a statement on Thursday. “Paris St-Germain is an institution that promotes respect on and off the pitch.” PSG manager Christophe Galtier declined to comment on the investigation in a news conference on Friday. The Ligue 1 leaders face Bayern Munich in the Champions League last-16 second leg on Wednesday, with Hakimi expected to play after recovering from a a muscle injury. Galtier said: “The aim with our medical staff is for him to be available for the match against Bayern.” Born in Spain, Hakimi was a key player as Morocco made history by reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup in Qatar, the first African side to do so. His performances saw him honoured at the Best Fifa Football Awards ceremony held in Paris on Monday evening, where he was named in the FIFPro men’s world team of the year.

Christian Atsu’s funeral set for March 17 The final funeral ceremony of the late Black Star player Christian Atsu will be held on March 17, 2023. According to his family, the funeral rites will take place at the forecourt of the statehouse. This was made known at the one-week celebration which is being held at the Adjiringanor Astro Turf in Accra. Meanwhile, the Minister of Youth and Sports Mustapha Yussif has assured of the government’s commitment to ensuring the late Ghanaian footballer gets a befitting funeral. “Government has taken all the cost of the one-week celebration. The funeral will be a state funeral. Government will take the cost of that as well because of the late footballer’s contribution to Ghana’s football. ” “Aside from that, the way and manner in which our brother died was devastating and this is the time for us all to come together to give him a befitting funeral.” The footballer died in a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit parts of Turkey and Syria on February 6, 2023. Atsu’s lifeless body was retrieved from the wreckage in Turkey after an 11-storey building collapsed on him and others. His body was brought to Ghana on Sunday, February 19, 2023, from Turkey.

Besiktas fans threw stuffed toys onto the pitch to be sent to children affected by the earthquake