General News of Thursday, 13 July 2017
Source: Myjoyonline.com
2017-07-13
Kotoko bus crashes; one feared dead, coach, players injured
Some eye-witnesses have given disturbing accounts of the fatal accident involving the playing body of Kumasi Asante Kotoko Wednesday night, according to the editor of the club’s newspaper.
The team bus of the Porcupine Warriors reportedly rammed into a slow moving truck loaded with fertiliser, around 10pm at Nkawkaw on their way to Kumasi, the Ashanti Region capital.
The team was returning to their base after honouring a League game with Inter Allies in Accra the same day.
Assistant Equipment Officer for the football club, Kofi Asare, (marked red in the image below) died in the accident while scores including Head Coach Steve Pollack, sustained injuries.
Jerome Otchere who is Editor-in-chief of Kotoko Express, the official mouthpiece of the club Thursday, told the host of the Super Morning Show on Joy FM, Kojo Yankson that there are many injuries that have been reported.
He said the accident “was a really, really serious situation” according to eyewitness accounts.
“Since last night, I’ve been in constant touch with some of the people who were on the bus especially the reporter who had a deep cut on the left eye which had to be stitched [and] one other reporter who handles our portal also had a swollen eye.
“The truth of the matter is that the shock has been so much that whoever you speak to gives different accounts. So what we as communicators are doing has been to put together all the accounts so that if we are putting something out we are very sure of what we are saying,” Mr. Otchere disclosed.
He said the Head of the Medical Team, Dr. Michael Leat has been teaming up with medics at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) to attend to the injured and all other victims.
Management of the club will be at the Hospital throughout the day, to make sure that every player is given the best of care, Jerome said.
He said management is on top of the situation and will appropriately brief supporters and the general public in the coming hours.
A high-powered delegation from the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has been dispatched to offer support to the team.
