SUGHA mourns Zambia and Togo disaster victims

Accra, June 12, GNA - The Supporters Union of Ghana (SUGHA) and the Coalition of Supporters Unions of Africa (COSUA) have sent messages of condolence to the people and sporting public of Zambia and Togo following the death of some soccer fans after the last week's Nation's Cup qualifiers.

Zambia lost 12 soccer fans in a stadium tragedy after their qualifier against Congo, due to a stampede, which occurred at the end of the game, whilst a helicopter carrying 21 Togolese football fans, including the Sports Minister, Richard Attipoe from Sierra Leone to Togo after a Nation's Cup qualifier crashed, killing all passengers on board. In separate letters sent to the Togolese Embassy and the Zambian High Commission and signed by Sarfo Abebrese, National President of SUGHA, it said "I wish to extend to the good people and the sporting public of your country our heartfelt condolences.

"We are truly saddened by the unfortunate incident, especially when such misfortunes are coming at a time COSUA is making strenuous efforts at unifying the supporters' front across the continent under one umbrella for the 2010 World Cup."

It hoped that the good Lord would give the two countries "succour and the comfort needed for the sports fraternity and their respective countries to overcome the tragedy and come out even much stronger."

The letter said SUGHA and COSUA were ready to collaborate with identifiable supporters groups in the two countries as Ghana prepares to host 2008 Nation's Cup. 12 June 07