A promising young soccer talent has been killed following a horrific attack on a team bus in Ghana, marking another troubling incident of armed robbery targeting the country's professional athletes.
Dominic Frimpong, a 20-year-old winger for Ghanaian Premier League club Berekum Chelsea, was fatally shot on Sunday as the team's bus returned from a match against Samartex in Samreboi, located in southern Ghana. The incident has sent shockwaves through Ghana's soccer community and raised urgent questions about player safety.
"Masked men wielding guns and assault rifles started shooting at our bus as the driver tried to reverse. The players and staff fled into nearby bushes to take cover," the club stated in a statement released following the attack.
In addition to Frimpong's death, another player suffered serious injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. The attack underscores growing security concerns facing athletes in Ghana's top league.
Ghana Football Association Responds
The Ghanaian Football Association released a statement Monday mourning the loss of Frimpong, describing him as a rising star whose commitment to the sport reflected the passion of Ghana's professional league.
"This tragic incident is not only a huge loss to Berekum Chelsea but also to Ghana football as a whole. Dominic was a promising young talent whose dedication and passion for the game embodied the spirit of our league," the governing body said.
In response to the attack, the GFA announced it would implement strengthened security measures for clubs traveling during domestic competitions, though specifics on those enhancements remain unclear.
Pattern of Violence
This is not an isolated occurrence. In 2023, another Ghanaian Premier League team, Legon Cities, experienced a similar armed robbery attack on their team bus. While no injuries were reported in that incident, it signals a troubling trend affecting professional soccer in the West African nation.
The deaths and injuries of athletes raise broader concerns about road safety and security infrastructure in Ghana, particularly for teams traveling between regional matches.
This story was originally reported by The Associated Press and the Lethbridge Herald.