Hatayspor paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Christian Atsu, a former Ghanaian football player, during their recent match, which marked their first game since a devastating earthquake took place and claimed the lives of Atsu and others.
Atsu, who previously played for clubs such as Newcastle United and Chelsea, tragically lost his life after being trapped under rubble for 12 days following the earthquake that devastated the city of Hatay. The match, a pre-season friendly against Hull City, ended in a 1-1 draw and was played as a tribute to both Atsu and Hatayspor’s Technical Director, Taner Savut, who also lost his life in the earthquake.
Atsu had scored the winning goal in Hatayspor’s last game before the earthquake occurred on February 6. After a two-week search, his body was recovered and later transported to Ghana for his final burial. The tribute served as a poignant reminder of Atsu’s contributions to the sport and the impact he had on the clubs he represented throughout his career.