Hundreds honour US-based Ghanaian coach who died in church

Hundreds gathered inside a Chesterfield County church Thursday night to remember a former Richmond Kickers player and coach who died earlier this week.

Kofi Nti, 40, died suddenly Sunday morning after collapsing at church.

Family, friends, and colleagues gathered wearing red to honor Nti and his favorite teams, the Richmond Kickers and Manchester United.

A native of Ghana, Nti served as Community Director with the Richmond Kickers Youth Soccer Club, where he coached hundreds of young soccer players, many of whom attended Thursday’s service.

"I know he cared so much about helping kids,” Michael Burke with the Richmond Kickers, said during the memorial. “On the surface, he didn't show a lot of emotion but I know he had a huge heart which is the unfortunate irony.”

The Richmond Kickers hosted the memorial service for a man friends called a “mentor, friend, and confidant who truly loved what he did.”

“I think I can speak on behalf of the entire Richmond Kickers organization that we will forever be grateful for his loyalty, his hard work and his dedication. He did it all. He did it all for you guys in this room," said Burke.



In his role with the Kickers, Nti helped oversee hundreds of young soccer players who take part in the Kickers recreational programs.

With no immediate family in Virginia, friends set up a GoFundMe page to raise money so his body could be transported back to his mother in Africa.

Community members quickly exceeded the goal, raising over $34,000 in three days.