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Post by rugbytoffee on Mar 22, 2023 14:22:57 GMT
Everton paid tribute to their former player Christian Atsu by sending a floral tribute with a heartfelt message to his funeral in Ghana.
Atsu, whose body was identified from the rubble of where his apartment building once stood, 12 days after a devastating earthquake hit Turkey and Syria last month, had been playing for Hatayspor, who following the disaster withdrew from this season’s Turkish Super Lig competition.
The 31-year-old was laid to rest following a ceremony at the State House in the Ghanaian capital city of Accra on Saturday, attended by both the west African nation’s President Nana Akufo-Addo and the country’s London-born national team coach Chris Hughton.
Atsu, who was capped 65 times by Ghana, scoring nine international goals, made 13 appearances for Everton on loan from Chelsea during the 2014/15 season. Although he never turned out for the Stamford Bridge outfit, he also had other spells in English football with Bournemouth and Newcastle United, with his wife Marie-Claire Rupio and three children having attended the Magpies’ home match against Liverpool at St James’ Park on February 18 where a minute’s applause was held in memory of Atsu after his body had been discovered.
Everton sent a white floral wreath in the shape of the letters ‘EFC’ with blue and white roses attached to Atsu’s funeral and it was accompanied by the words: “Fondly remembered and loved as part of the Everton Family from the board, staff, players & supporters of Everton Football Club.”
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