Gory accident claims lives of young footballers:SWAG, GFA commiserate with bereaved families, victims

The Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) has expressed shock and disbelief about the tragic death of eight young footballers in a gory accident at the bank of the Offin River on Saturday September 19.

The young players, who died on the spot when the vehicle on which they were travelling plunged into the Offin river bank after the driver was alleged to have lost control of the vehicle, were  said to be travelling on a mini bus with registration number AS 928-19.

The mini-bus, with a capacity of 12 passengers, was carrying 36 players when the accident occurred.

The players who were between the ages of 13 and 15 years were  returning to Offinso after travelling to Afrancho, near Buoho, to register the players for the 2020/2021 football season.

Twenty-four other players,  who sustained minor injuries, were sent to the St Patrick Hospital at Maase for medical care, while four others, who were in critical condition, were rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi for emergency medical treatment .

In a statement, the President of SWAG , Mr Kwabena Yeboah, urged the media to  be  circumspect in their reportage and avoid displaying any form of gory pictures and videos of the accident.

He said displaying such images would not only traumatise the bereaved families but would also make those receiving treatment go through emotional pain.

 Meanwhile, a powerful delegation of the Ghana Football Association (GFA)  yesterday visited families of the deceased at Offinso to express their deepest condolences to them.

The delegation, which included  the GFA Executive Committee members, Mr Frederick Acheampong and Madam Habiba Atta Forson,as well as  the Ashanti Regional Football Association chairman, Mr Osei Tutu and Mr Aminu Abdulahi of the National Juvenile Committee, also visited the  KATH and St Paul’s Hospital at Offinso and wished those on admission a speedy recovery .

In his interaction with the media, Mr Acheampong said the FA  was deeply saddened by the development and expressed their condolences to the family of the deceased and wished the rest of the team, who sustained varying degrees of injury, a speedy recovery.

He gave the assurance that an official report would be made to the football governing body for further action.