Turkey Earthquake 2023 | ‘No phrases’: Physique of ‘most interesting’ footballer Christian Atsu recovered

Atsu joined Turkish membership Hatayspor in September and scored the successful objective for his new staff in a league sport at dwelling in opposition to Kasimpaşa SK on February 5, simply hours earlier than the earthquake struck within the pre-dawn hours of February 6.

Antakya, the town the place Hatayspor is predicated, is within the southern area of Turkey hardest hit by the earthquake.

The dying toll from the 7.8-magnitude quake in southeastern Turkey and northern Syria handed 43,000 final week.

Hatayspor stated Atsu’s physique could be repatriated to Ghana. “There aren’t any phrases to explain our disappointment,” the membership tweeted.

Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo posted a photograph of Atsu on his official Twitter account and wrote: “Ghana soccer has misplaced considered one of its most interesting personnel and ambassadors, one who will probably be troublesome to interchange. He’ll be sorely missed.”

Former Ghana captain and teammate Asamoah Gyan tweeted “RIP Brother.”

The contractor of the 12-story Ronesans Rezidans constructing – the place Atsu and the membership’s sporting director Taner Savut lived – was detained at Istanbul Airport every week in the past, apparently attempting to go away the nation.

Savut remains to be lacking.

Atsu’s agent, Nana Sechere, traveled to Turkey with members of Atsu’s household in an try to seek out him, holding onto hopes that he is perhaps alive amid the wreckage. Sechere had urged authorities and Hatayspor officers to step up their efforts within the seek for Atsu and Savut.

Atsu performed greater than 60 occasions for Ghana and scored on his debut as a 20-year-old in 2012. He was a part of the Ghana squad on the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and starred on the 2015 African Cup of Nations, scoring two targets to assist Ghana to the ultimate, the place it misplaced in a penalty shootout to Ivory Coast.

He was named the participant of the match at that African Cup.

Atsu was signed by Chelsea in 2013 however his time there was restricted to appearances in exhibition video games and he was despatched out on mortgage to varied golf equipment over the subsequent 4 years. The winger joined Newcastle on mortgage in 2016 and was a part of the staff that gained promotion again to the Premier League within the 2016-17 season.

He signed a everlasting take care of Newcastle in 2017 and spent 4 years there. The membership stated Saturday it was “profoundly saddened” by Atsu’s dying.

“A proficient participant and a particular particular person, he’ll all the time be fondly remembered by our gamers, workers and supporters,” Newcastle tweeted.

The Ghana Soccer Affiliation added: “We wish to specific our deepest condolences to his spouse and youngsters, the household, family members and the soccer group.”

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