A football fan has died at a Ghana Premier League venue in Nsoatre, a suburb of the Bono Ahafo region.
The deceased, identified as Francis Frimpong, popularly known as Pooley, was believed to be a passionate supporter of Kumasi Asante Kotoko.
Though JoySports cannot independently verify the details, multiple reports suggest he was stabbed to death during a Matchday 19 Premier League fixture between Nsoatreman FC and Asante Kotoko.
An eyewitness, who was at the VIP section of the stadium, claimed he was seated close to former Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffour Awuah, when the brawl began.
“I was seated right below Hon. Baffour Awuah, who is the owner of the club when the fight started on the pitch,” he said in Twi.
“Kwasi Appiah [Head of Asante Kotoko’s Technical Directorate] was seated to his right. So when the fight broke out, he went downstairs to try and calm the situation.
“When he got there, he signaled for Kwasi Appiah to join him, but some of the Kotoko leadership advised Appiah not to, warning that the situation was too volatile and he could be attacked, so Appiah stayed back,” he narrated.
According to the eyewitness, this angered Baffour Awuah.
“He got upset that Appiah ignored him and, out of frustration, signaled the supporters to continue what they were doing. He incited the fans. On his way back to his seat, Pooley approached him.”
Describing Pooley, the eyewitness said: “He was fair in complexion, wearing a white shirt and brown shoes, with a Kotoko flag around his neck. I could hear them clearly because I was right there.
“Pooley told him, ‘Oh Honourable, what the fans are doing is not good; tell them to stop.’ But because Honourable was frustrated that Appiah ignored him, he pushed Pooley.
“The fans then rushed at Pooley. In his attempt to defend himself, he punched one of the supporters and tried to move towards Kwasi Appiah. However, a fight broke out, and Kotoko’s leadership intervened to restore calm.”
Sources claim Appiah was pelted with water and he eventually left the stadium.
But just when they thought peace had been restored, things took a tragic turn.
“So while we all thought calm had been restored, I told my boss we should leave. As we got downstairs, we saw that Pooley had been stabbed with a knife and was being rushed out in a Pragya [tricycle].”
According to him, the ambulance was parked near the players’ dressing rooms, while the stabbing occurred at the VIP section.
“I was with Pooley when he gave his last words. He said, ‘Even if there’s an ambulance, they won’t take me to the hospital.’ Those were his last words.”
The eyewitness, who claims to be a hospital worker, stated that Pooley was stabbed in the upper left side of his chest, near the heart.
“The person who stabbed him was an expert. After stabbing him, he told them to take him to the ambulance. I was at the stadium with my medical team, so I followed the ambulance to the Nsoatre Ghana Health Service, the nearest hospital.
“I was with him when his eyes were fading. The black in his eyes disappeared, so I believe he died at the park.
“When he was taken inside the hospital, they did nothing to him. So from what I saw, he died at the park and not at the hospital, as some claim.”
Asante Kotoko confirmed Pooley’s passing in a statement on Sunday evening.
“Tragically, one of our supporters who was stabbed during the violence has succumbed to his injuries at the hospital,” a portion of the statement read.
The club described his death as a senseless loss.
While the hospital where he passed away was not mentioned, the club described his death as a senseless loss.
“This senseless loss of life is devastating, and we extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and the entire Asante Kotoko fraternity.”
The eyewitness said he was taken to the nearby hospital, Nsoatre Ghana Health Service.
Videos circulating on social media show him lying in a pool of blood. It remains unclear what triggered the incident, but as narrated by the eyewitness, chaotic scenes unfolded on the pitch, with players from both teams exchanging punches.
The altercation escalated beyond the pitch, forcing fans to flee for safety as missiles were hurled onto the field.
Asante Kotoko goalkeeper Mohammed Camara was seen chasing a man in a green shirt to confront him physically before bystanders intervened.
Meanwhile, club captain Justice Blay was caught on camera throwing what appeared to be a water bottle back into the crowd before police intervened.
The situation spiralled into a massive brawl, leaving the police seemingly overwhelmed by the violence.
Source: JoySports
