Ghanaian footballer Dominic Frimpong has died after his team were attacked by armed robbers while they returned from a game.
The Ghana Police service confirmed Frimpong, a 20-year-old forward for Berekum Chelsea, had died in hospital after sustaining gunshot injuries during the attack on the team bus on Sunday evening. Police said a manhunt was underway for the suspects.
Berekum Chelsea stated the club’s team bus had been targeted by masked men with assault rifles as they travelled back from a league game, forcing players and staff to take cover in bushes.
Berekum Chelsea compete in the Ghana Premier League, the top-flight of the Ghanaian football system, and were returning from a 1-0 defeat against FC Samartex, a game in which Frimpong was named in the starting line-up. Frimpong was described as a “promising young talent whose dedication and passion for the game embodied the spirit of our league” by the Ghanaian Football Association (GFA).
A Berekum Chelsea statement read: “The team bus had been attacked by a group of armed robbers who blocked the road. Masked men wielding assault rifles started shooting at the bus as the driver tried to reverse. The players and staff fled into nearby bushes to take cover.”
Police said six armed men were involved in the attack at around 10:30pm local time. It took place on the Ahyiresu-Kwame Dwumor Sreso road in the Nyinahin District, which is located in the Ashanti Region in south west Ghana. The team bus was carrying around 30 players and staff members.
A statement from the Ashanti Regional Police read: “The Regional Police Command has deployed additional personnel and crime scene experts to the area and is currently on a manhunt for the suspects. The police assure the public that the perpetrators will be arrested within the shortest possible time.”
The GFA’s statement read: “The incident has sent shockwaves across the entire football fraternity. The GFA extends its heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased, his teammates, technical staff, management, and all at Berekum Chelsea during this extremely difficult time.
“This tragic incident is not only a huge loss to Berekum Chelsea but also to Ghana football as a whole. Dominic was a promising young talent whose dedication and passion for the game embodied the spirit of our league.
“The GFA is in constant communication with the club and 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 justice is served.”
The GFA also announced it is looking to strengthen security arrangements for clubs traveling for domestic competitions to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
