Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Football to die for







Lats Sunday February 8 I was at the Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi in Ghana to watch the biggest football league rivalry in West Africa. It was a match between Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi's Asante Kotoko. Game ended 2-1 in favour of the visitors Hearts.

But there was much more to it. In 2001, 126 fans lost their lives in a stadium stampede involving both teams. This time around, many fans fainted and it's reported that as many as four fans may have died due to dehydration. I was there with my new Nikon D40 and I took some very painful pictures of fans collapsing under the searing 40 degree heat.

At that moment in time, water became like gold as many were willing to kill for it. Only the strong could survive. Men of the fire services had to be drafted to spray water into the stands when bottled water ran out.

I almost passed out myself while taking shots in the press of bodies.

8 comments:

Femi B said...

wow!! was it that hot? nah wah oh

Web-OJ said...

So hot? Why didn't you watch the match on tv? Stupid question you think? :-)

LG said...

hmmm' oga o
may their souls rest in peace

max said...

your country is attractive and successful your photos, hello in Lagos!! Sorry for my bad English

SOLOMONSYDELLE said...

na wa ih!

Anonymous said...

Why didn't they move to kick-off time, to when the temperature was cooler?

VP said...

That's so sad, and for a game. Impressive photos, take care!

Brett said...

A really great set of shots