Renowned Ghanaian coach Emmanuel Kwasi Afranie has passed on.
News of the death of the celebrated gaffer who in recent times had been battling with mild stroke emerged Wednesday morning.
The Ghana Police Service in the Eastern Region has confirmed that the coach died in a tragic accident.
According to Chief Superintendent Baba Adamu, the Kibi District Chief Commander, the ambulance that was transferring the coach to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital had an accident on the Birim river.
“Yes I can confirm that at around 8am, I received a report that there had been an accident on the bridge of the Birim river just before you get to Linda Dor. We rush to the scene only to find the body of Coach Afranie in the water”, he told Joy Sports.
“Apparently, there were five people on board the vehicle which is the National Ambulance Service vehicle and my information was that he was been conveyed to Komfo Anokye.”
He added that, “At the time we got there he was the only person in the water, but they managed to rescue the other four who were aboard.”
Meanwhile, an eye witness at the accident scene said, “he heard a loud sound which suggested there was a burst tyre. It happens to be a rear tyre, perhaps the driver wanted to brake, lost control and the car somersaulted and went down the bridge into the river”.
The legendary trainer led Ghana to win silver at the 2001 FIFA U-20 tournament hosted by Argentina.
Coach Afranie once managed four national teams – Black Stars, Black Starlets, Satellites and the Black Queens.
