Liverpool Star, Naby Keita’s Cousin, Eight Others Killed In Bus Auto-Crash
LAGOS MARCH 7TH (NEWSRANGERS)-The cousin of Liverpool star Naby Keita is among nine Guinean footballers killed in a bus crash on Thursday.
Almaty Traore is one of nine victims confirmed to have died, in a press release signed by General Mathurin Bangoura, president of the Guinean Professional Football League.
Keita was travelling alongside teammates of his second division side, Etoile de Guinee, when the bus was involved in the fatal accident.
A further 19 people were injured in the incident, which occurred some 250km east of the capital city, Conakry.
The team were on their way to play in the city of Kankan, a further 400km east, in what was meant to be the first match of the league season.
Liverpool ace Keita had posted his condolences on social media on Thursday, declaring on Instagram: “I am shocked, sad and heartbroken at this terrible news.
“My sincere condolences to the #etoiledeguinee team and to Guinean football, may their souls rest in peace.”
A statement from the LGFP also thanked Guinea’s president Apha Conde for taking charge of ensuring that all the bodies and the injured are taken to Conakry.
The LGPF declared on Friday morning that “the process of identifying the bodies” was ” completed” and that the victims’ families could “start to mourn”.
The president of the Guinea Football Federation Antonio Souare says it plans to hold a day of mourning to remember those who lost their lives with all teams playing in the league wearing black armbands, with the exact date yet to be named.
“We were training this morning to make the last adjustment,” said Sekoy Doumbouya, coach of rival side Karifamoriah FC, whom were due to be their opposition this weekend.
“When we heard the news, we immediately stopped our training session. All Karifamoria FC players and supervisors are sad today. All Guinean footballers and leaders are in mourning. We pray for the souls of the victims to rest.”
It is the second fatal bus crash involving a football team to occur in Guinea this year.
On January 30, a coach carrying first-division side Wakriya AC late at night crashed into a stationary truck in Friguiadi, outside Conakry. Three people died, two Wakriya players and the bus driver.
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