A Ghana Premier League footballer, Dominic Frimpong, has died after armed robbers attacked his team bus on their return from an away fixture.
The incident happened on Sunday night, according to the Ghana Football Association, which confirmed the death on Monday.
His club, Berekum Chelsea FC, said: “masked men wielding guns and assault rifles” fired on the team bus, forcing players to flee into nearby bushes for safety.
Police said the attack occurred around 10:30 pm along the Ahyiresu–Kwame Dwumor Sreso road in the Nyinahin District of the Ashanti Region.
Frimpong sustained gunshot wounds during the attack and later died in hospital while receiving treatment.
Police added that another victim, George Owusu Afriyie, 52, was robbed of 4,500 cedis.
The Ghana Football Association described the incident as “tragic” and a “huge loss to Berekum Chelsea but also to Ghana football as a whole.”
It added: “Dominic was a promising young talent whose dedication and passion for the game embodied the spirit of our league.”
The 20-year-old forward had joined Berekum Chelsea FC on loan from Aduana Stars FC at the start of the year.
He made 13 appearances and scored two goals for the club, according to local media.
The GFA said it was in contact with the relevant authorities and the club, urging that “all necessary measures” should be taken to ensure justice is served.
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In a separate statement, the Ghana Premier League expressed its “unwavering backing” for the team during their “difficult moment”, and called on security agencies to take “urgent steps to safeguard all participating clubs” as they travel for matches across the country.
Sunday’s attack once again highlights longstanding concerns over safety on major roads in Ghana.
In recent years, clubs including FC Savannah, Wa All Stars, Legon Cities and AshantiGold have reportedly experienced similar attacks.
Ghanaian sports journalist Muftawu Abdulai described the mood in the country as one of “shock and disappointment”, noting that fans are increasingly questioning whether it is “safe to travel and play league matches”.
“If the lives of the people or the key architect of the game cannot be protected then it is not worth playing the game,” Abdulai told BBC Sport Africa.
The GFA said it will be reviewing and strengthening security arrangements for clubs travelling for competitions within Ghana to “prevent such tragic occurrences in the future”.
Frimpong had joined Berekum Chelsea on loan from Aduana FC in January.
Aduana said they “mourn” his loss, and that their “prayers are with his family, Berekum Chelsea, and the football community”.
“Rest well,” their statement added.
The forward was set to stay at the team until the end of the premier league season. He had scored two goals in 13 appearances.
Berekum Chelsea were originally called Semereka FC when the club was formed in 2000.
Four years later, the name changed following the transfer of former Ghanaian national star Michael Essien to Chelsea, which sparked a rise in popularity for the English Premier League team in Ghana.
The Eagle Online
