Nothing of this magnitude had ever occurred in Ghana, however on this present day, many followers returned residence with out their pals, households, and fellow followers.
One fan left with out 35 of his pals after he narrowly survived because of an unlikely hero and a miracle.
That one fan was soccer administrator Abdul Aziz Haruna Futa, who broke down in tears on nationwide TV whereas narrating occasions resulting in the darkest day in the country’s football history.
Aziz needed to be consoled by the hosts when he narrated the story 15 years after that day. On that day, although, one thing else was his consolation.
Koo Fori, beloved for his drunken antics in Efiewura, is now making headlines for all of the fallacious causes—accused of defrauding a US-based Ghanaian of $50,000. Is that this an actual arrest or simply one other scripted act?
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In the course of the darkest day in Ghana’s football history, an surprising lifesaver was the hero of the day for some supporters trapped within the chaos.
Not emergency well being employees, however a sachet of ice cream. Sure, a yogurt ice cream.
Ridiculous proper? However that was the truth for some followers who noticed their lives flash proper earlier than their eyes on that fateful day.
Hearts of Oak’s victory stained by blood
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It was alleged to be an exciting match between Ghana’s prime two soccer golf equipment, Accra Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko, on the Accra Sports activities Stadium on Might 9, 2001.
With hundreds of followers filling the stands, feelings ran excessive on the wet day as Hearts of Oak got here from behind to win 2–1 with two late objectives. Lawrence Adjei opened the scoring for the Porcupine Warriors earlier than two late strikes from lethal striker Ishmael Addo helped the Phobians edge previous their rivals.
Nonetheless, ultimately, the victory didn’t matter. 100 and twenty-seven (127) souls drew their final breath when chaos rocked the stands, main to what’s now the darkest day in Ghana’s soccer historical past and stays the worst stadium tragedy throughout Africa.
READ ALSO: May 9 Accra Sports stadium disaster: Darkest day in Ghana’s football history
Disillusioned Kotoko supporters claimed the assistant referee had raised his flag for an infringement resulting in the objective.
Nonetheless, the referee on the day Wilson Sey mentioned he gave a bonus as a result of the supposed foul was on Hearts of Oak’s attacking participant, who was Emmanuel Osei Kuffour.
The visiting followers didn’t settle for this determination in good religion, they usually started throwing plastic seats and bottles onto the pitch. Tensions heightened, and the scenario grew into full-fledged chaos.
Police fireplace tear gasoline, chaos erupt
To regulate the scenario, the police fired tear gasoline into the stands. This prompted panic among the many crowd. Followers scrambled to flee the choking fumes, however most of the stadium gates had been locked. With fewer exits than initially designed, the rash shortly was a lethal stampede.
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Trapped in a gory stampede with yogurt ice cream
Trapped on this grisly stampede was Abdulai Ibrahim Illiasu, alias Zinga – a well-known identify throughout the well-known Phobian ultras, Chapter O.
A goosebumped Zinga narrated this chilling expertise to Sporty FM journalist Emmanuel Ayamga. Recounting the circumstances resulting in the high-stakes match and the unlucky previous occasions, he shared:
We knew one thing would occur on that day, so we didn’t put on any overt Chapter O or Accra Hearts of Oak attire. All of us wore a white T-shirt with the inscription: ‘Ever Highly effective Chapter O’, that’s what we wore. In these days, we used to beat Kotoko so much… so, the data we had was that ‘Zinga, the match might be tense, and also you’ll be overwhelmed in case you win towards Kotoko. Therefore, none of it’s best to put on a Hearts jersey; a white T-shirt will do.’ And we obliged.
Subsequently, tempers flared when Ishmael Addo caught that final dagger via Kotoko hearts to win the sport for Hearts.
Some sad away followers, in line with Zinga, started breaking the plastic seats and flying them onto the pitch. The police issued a warning for them to cease, however that fell on deaf ears, and the police responded by firing tear gasoline into the irate supporters.
They dispersed and ran in the direction of the Chapter O stand. After they bought there, Zinga mentioned they pleaded with the police to cease firing, however they didn’t pay attention. What adopted was a scene solely seen in films. The staunch Phobian continued:
The primary tear gasoline they fired, the particular person in entrance of me collapsed first. It was solely God that saved me. I additionally collapsed. However you understand it rained on that day, and there was this boy promoting yoghurt, which had all melted and turned liquid.
I used to be down struggling because of suffocation from the teargas, then I realised my arms had touched one thing chilly. I picked it up and noticed that it was a yoghurt. Once I drank it, it neutralised the impact of the tear gasoline. I bought power from that and began feeding among the different collapsed spectators with yoghurt.
Within the absence of water within the stands, he believes strongly that the yogurt ice cream was what saved his life, and that of different followers, together with a feminine on the day.
Yogurt ice cream – the unlikely hero
Bear in mind Aziz? Similar to Zinga, he maintains it was a miracle and God’s grace that he’s nonetheless alive. However didn’t overlook to present credit score to the unlikely hero on that wet day. The yogurt ice cream.
A misty-eyed Aziz shared:
There was a man promoting yogurt, who additionally needed to run and go away the yogurt. Due to the ache in my eye, I needed to take one of many yogurts. There’s a girl there, then she snatched the yogurt from my hand [to also use]. Then I realised that no, all people needed to run for his or her lives.
It’s understood that the probiotics in yoghurt will help restore steadiness to your digestive system, which can be upset by tear gas exposure.
For the various who had been unfortunate and much away from this uncommon lifesaving hero on the day, they perished. Aziz and others who rushed to search out an exit, fell on one another and screams for assist grew louder.
Face-to-face with dying
He noticed a well-known face within the piled-up our bodies however as he reached for assist, the buddy gave up the ghost.
I noticed certainly one of my Chapter O members, really I used to be calling his identify; ‘Oh Muda, Oh Muda, assist me. Muda assist me.’ He simply checked out me and turned his head. He’s gone. It’s not simple.
Our bodies, each acutely aware and unconscious, flooded the 37 Military Hospital and Ridge Hospital in Accra. Households thronged these hospitals and different close by clinics looking for their family members.
This reminiscence has scarred many soccer followers affected each immediately and not directly by the Might 9 catastrophe, and along with different components, matchday attendance has constantly taken a nosedive.
Might 9: By no means Once more
Within the early 2000s, each groups had been on the peak of their powers, and stadiums had been stuffed a number of hours earlier than kick-off. This was confirmed by Zinga, who believes what now we have now and skilled throughout the latest Tremendous Conflict is an eyesore.
With key stakeholders such because the Ghana Soccer Affiliation (GFA) president, Kurt Okraku, and Sports activities and Recreation Minister, Kofi Iddie Adams, calling for an finish to hooliganism throughout the twenty fourth memorial on the Accra Sports activities Stadium right now, it’s vital to evaluate how this impacts the gorgeous recreation.
MUST READ: May 9, Accra Sports Stadium disaster and 4 other worst stadium disasters in history
By no means once more! By no means once more ought to yogurt ice cream be within the place to behave as a superhero at a Ghana soccer match.
People ought to’ve averted what occurred and somebody ought to’ve been held chargeable for the carnage on Might 9.
