By NewsBits
The body of the former Premier League and Ghana player Christian Atsu, who died in the devastating earthquake in Turkey, arrived in Ghana, his home country on Sunday.
Atsu’s death was announced on Saturday by his agent Nana Sechere, who said the footballer’s body was found 12 days after the disaster hit Turkey and Syria, claiming more than 44,000 lives.
Ghana football international Atsu, who died at the age of 31 had plied his trades with Chelsea, Newcastle, Everton, and Porto among other clubs, was playing for Turkish Super Lig side Hatayspor at the time of his death. Atsu had been an ambassador for the global children’s charity Arms Around The Child (AATC) since 2016, was the main benefactor of a new school that is nearing completion in Senya Beraku in Ghana.
His family members were in anguish at the airport for the arrival of his coffin, while friends poured tributes on Ghana’s midfielder. A spokesperson for AATC said, “It is with immense pain and disbelief that we have to write these words. We have held onto the hope that Christian would survive and be found in the rubble of the tragic earthquake to hit Turkey and Syria.
“Christian Atsu was a truly unique and wonderful man, and his legacy will live on through the many hundreds if not thousands of lives he has helped. He will live in our memories as one of the kindest, most talented, humble people to enter this world.”
