Kotoko lose technical team member in road accident

The Porcupines suffered a fatal accident on Wednesday night in Nkawkaw after their league defeat to Inter Allies in Accra

The Asante Kotoko team bus was involved in an accident on Wednesday after their 1-0 defeat in Accra to Inter Allies in matchday 22 of the Ghana Premier League.

A first-half goal from Abdul Hadik Hudu was enough to end the Porcupines’ nine games a without defeat and pushed them down to fourth in the league with eight games left to be played.

However, the unfortunate incident happened while the team was returning to Kumasi, as their bus ran into a stationary truck in Nkawkaw.

According to Goal’s sources at the scene, head coach Steve Polack and assistant coach Godwin Ablordey were initially trapped in the wreckage but were extracted and rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi.

Captain Amos Frimpong, Baba Mahama, Sadick Adams and Ahmed Adams are reported to have suffered various degrees of injuries.

It was later confirmed that equipment officer Thomas Obeng Asare had died after being rushed to the Holy Family Hospital, in Nkawkaw.

Kotoko equipment officer Thomas Obeng Asare confirmed dead at Holy Family Hospital, Nkawkaw in an accident after the 1-0 defeat to Allies pic.twitter.com/rQYExghxRX — Evans Gyamera-Antwi (@ashesgyamera) July 13, 2017

Following the confirmation of the sad incident, the Ghana FA issued a press statement to console the club and affected families.

“The Ghana Football Association has learnt with sadness, an accident involving the team bus of Kumasi Asante Kotoko on their return to Kumasi following their Premier League match with Inter Allies in Accra on Wednesday.

“The GFA and the entire football fraternity is devastated by the sad development,” the statement read.

“The GFA has established contact with the club, and our thoughts and prayers are with Kumasi Asante Kotoko, particularly the injured officials and players, who are currently receiving treatment at the Holy Family Hospital in Nkawkaw.

“We urge all to pray for our brothers at this difficult moment.

“Meanwhile a GFA delegation has been dispatched to the Holy Family Hospital in Nkawkaw to offer support to Asante Kotoko in this difficult time,” the statement added.

Goal can reveal that Sunday’s league fixture between Kotoko and their rivals Hearts of Oak in Kumasi has been postponed until further notice but, the remaining seven fixtures are likely to be honoured across the country.

Exactly a year ago, former premier league side Heart of Lions suffered a similar incident at Mampong-Mamfe on their way to honour their Division One game against King Solomon but fortunately no serious injuries were recorded.

Source:Goal