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Football world unites in support of ‘wounded’ Asante Kotoko
Once again the football community prioritised humanity over competition as tributes pour in from all angles for the wounded Porcupine Warriors.
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It was the most terrifying news yet. Earlier in the day the Porcupine Warriors had been in action against Inter Allies in the Ghana Premier League – a game the club lost by one goal to nil.
On a normal day the talk of town would have been Kotoko dropping to fourth after that loss; it would have been criticism from fans, questions for the technical team and reflection for the players.
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But on this day it was all about panic, concern and sadness. The heart and soul of Asanteman had been seriously ‘wounded’ after a car crash left many players and officials injured, with the assistant equipment officer of Kotoko, Kofi Asare, unfortunately losing his life in the gory accident.
The club had set off from Accra to Kumasi after their week 22 clash with Inter Allies at the El-Wak stadium in Tema. It was obvious everyone in the team bus was moody, but never did anybody think that this sort tragedy would befall the Ghana Premier League giants.
The team’s bus, unfortunately, ran into a Kia truck parked at the side of the main Nkawkaw road that links to Kumasi. It was already a bad day for the Porcupine Warriors, having seen their unbeaten run in the second round ended, but it turned even worse with the club’s car crash.
The day has since been labeled a ‘Black Wednesday’.
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Perhaps the gory nature of the accident was summed by deputy-skipper of Kotoko, Eric Donkor that fewer casualties were recorded.
“It wasn’t easy but God made us survive, we the players. Unfortunately, we lost a technical team member,” he told TV3.
“I was sitting at the back of the bus when the accident happened. I wasn’t asleep. I was awake when it happened.
“We were overtaking one big vehicle not knowing there was a KIA car parked with fertilizer and we just run into it. There wasn’t any triangle or any symbol to show that there is a spoilt car there. So we just run into it and that caused the accident.”
Thankfully, no more deaths have been recorded, with the club confirming that all players had been discharged, with the exception of AshiteyOllenu who suffered internal bleeding and is still receiving treatment.
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Head coach Steve Polack at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital on his fractured leg. Assistant coach Godwin Ablordey is also recuperating well after sustaining a neck injury.
It is times like this that define the sport, and the football world has not disappointed at all. There has been total support from fellow clubs, active and ex-players, as well as high-ranking officials of the country, as tributes pour in from all angles.
Current Ghana president Nana Akufu-Addo and his predecessor John Mahama have all sent various messages of support to the Porcupine Warriors fraternity.
But perhaps the biggest show of support came from Okwahu United and Hearts of Oak. The former exhibited great sportsmanship, amid off the pitch, by donating their team bus to transport the injured players and staff of Kotoko to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital for first aid.
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And while Hearts of Oak is known to be a sworn rival to Kotoko, the Phobians decided to put all hostilities aside and rather empathise with the Porcupine Warriors. Both clubs were scheduled to meet in this weekend’s fixture; however, the game has been postponed by the Premier League Board (PLB) due to the plight of Kotoko.
Once again humanity has won over competition, and it can only bode well for the sport. The harsh tag #PrayForKotoko rose to the top of Twitter trends within hours of the accident, and that goes a long way to highlight the fact that the game still appreciates those who are blighted in line of duty.
Football, and sports in general, has had to deal with a lot of flaws, ranging from sexism, racism and abuse, however, the support given Kotoko shows the game has still got its altruistic senses intact.
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Kotoko might be wounded but the entire football community bleeds, they might be in flames but it is Ghana football that burns, they might currently be bereaved, but it is every football-loving fan that mourns.
And as the football world unites to help one of Ghana’s greatest clubs get back on its feet, it’s a choice for life over sport as we #PrayForKotoko.
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