Dominic Frimponga footballer Ghanaian 20 years old, was murdered this Sunday during an assault on the bus that was transporting his team, Berekum Chelseaafter a local league game. The death was reported by the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
The incident took place on the route from Goaso to Bibiani, near the town of Berekum, when the team was returning to its training headquarters after the match against Samartex FC, played in Samreboi, in the south of the country, where they lost 1-0.
“On our way back to Berekum from Samreboi, our bus was attacked by a group of armed robbers who blocked the road to prevent our passage.“The club said in a statement released Monday. “Masked men armed with pistols and assault rifles began shooting at our bus when the driver attempted to reverse. “The players and staff fled to the nearby bushes to take cover,” the institution noted.
For its part, Berekum Chelsea FC, a Ghanaian first division club, confirmed what happened: “Masked men armed with pistols and assault rifles shot at the bus.” The attack forced the players to take refuge in the undergrowth. The robbery, according to the Ghana Police, occurred around 10:30 p.m. (local time).
The investigations carried out by the Police determined that the bus was riddled with bullets while the driver tried to reverse to escape.
Frimpong suffered gunshot wounds and died in hospital while receiving treatment. “Another victim, George Owusu Afriyie, 52, was also assaulted and robbed of $GHS4,500 (around $408),” the police added in their report.
In the midst of the chaos, players and members of the coaching staff quickly got off the bus and fled to nearby areas to take shelter. Frimpong was shot in the head, leaving him seriously injured. He was rushed to a local hospital, where he finally died despite medical attempts to save his life.
The GFA described the incident as “tragic” and lamented “a great loss for Berekum Chelsea, but also for Ghanaian football as a whole.”“Dominic was a promising young man whose commitment and passion for the game embodied the spirit of our league,” he added.
“The GFA remains in constant communication with the club and the relevant authorities, including the Ghana Police Service, as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding this unfortunate incident. We urge that all necessary measures be taken to ensure that justice is done,” said the entity that brings together Ghanaian football.
He went on to say: “The GFA will work with key stakeholders to review and strengthen safety measures for clubs traveling to domestic competitions, to prevent such tragic events in the future.”
The forward joined Berekum Chelsea FC on loan from Aduana Stars FC at the beginning of the year and made 13 appearances and scored two goals for the club.
This tragedy once again put the spotlight on the insecurity affecting football in Ghana. In recent years, clubs such as Savannah, Wa All Stars, Legon Cities and AshantiGold suffered similar episodes.
With information from Reuters, ANSA and AFP.
