A tragic incident occurred during a Ghana Premier League game in Nsoatre, a town in Ghana’s Bono Ahafo region, where a football fan lost his life. The victim, identified as Francis Frimpong (widely known as Pooley), was reportedly a devoted supporter of Kumasi Asante Kotoko.
While details remain unconfirmed by JoySports, local reports claim Frimpong was fatally stabbed during a Matchday 19 clash between Nsoatreman FC and Asante Kotoko.
An eyewitness at the scene shared that the violence erupted near the VIP section of the stadium. The witness, who was seated close to former Employment Minister Ignatius Baffour Awuah, described chaos breaking out unexpectedly during the match.
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"I was seated right below Hon. Baffour Awuah, who is the owner of the club, when the fight started on the pitch," he said in Twi.
"Kwasi Appiah [Head of Asante Kotoko’s Technical Directorate] was seated to his right. So when the fight broke out, he went downstairs to try and calm the situation.
"When he got there, he signalled for Kwasi Appiah to join him, but some of the Kotoko leadership advised Appiah not to, warning that the situation was too volatile and he could be attacked, so Appiah stayed back," he narrated.
According to the eyewitness, this angered Baffour Awuah.
"He got upset that Appiah ignored him and, out of frustration, signalled the supporters to continue what they were doing. He incited the fans. On his way back to his seat, Pooley approached him."
Describing Pooley, the eyewitness said: "He was fair in complexion, wearing a white shirt and brown shoes, with a Kotoko flag around his neck. I could hear them clearly because I was right there.
"Pooley told him, 'Oh Honourable, what the fans are doing is not good; tell them to stop.' But because Honourable was frustrated that Appiah ignored him, he pushed Pooley.
"The fans then rushed at Pooley. In his attempt to defend himself, he punched one of the supporters and tried to move towards Kwasi Appiah. However, a fight broke out, and Kotoko’s leadership intervened to restore calm."
Sources claim Appiah was pelted with water and he eventually left the stadium.
But just when they thought peace had been restored, things took a tragic turn.
"So while we all thought calm had been restored, I told my boss we should leave. As we got downstairs, we saw that Pooley had been stabbed with a knife and was being rushed out in a Pragya [tricycle]."
According to him, the ambulance was parked near the players’ dressing rooms, while the stabbing occurred at the VIP section.
"I was with Pooley when he gave his last words. He said, ‘Even if there's an ambulance, they won’t take me to the hospital.’ Those were his last words."
The eyewitness, who claims to be a hospital worker, stated that Pooley was stabbed in the upper left side of his chest, near the heart.
"The person who stabbed him was an expert. After stabbing him, he told them to take him to the ambulance. I was at the stadium with my medical team, so I followed the ambulance to the Nsoatre Ghana Health Service, the nearest hospital.
"I was with him when his eyes were fading. The black in his eyes disappeared, so I believe he died at the park.
"When he was taken inside the hospital, they did nothing to him. So from what I saw, he died at the park and not at the hospital, as some claim."
The deceased Asante Kotoko supporter married just six months ago.
— Saddick Adams (@SaddickAdams) February 3, 2025
May he rest in peace pic.twitter.com/Nm8OwYSw4S
With a heavy heart , we announce the untimely demise of our beloved supporter, Frimpong Yaw Francis, whose life was taken by some hooligans at the Nsoatre Park during our #GOLM19 game against Nsoatreman F.C
— Asante Kotoko SC - 2X CAF CL Winners🥇 (@AsanteKotoko_SC) February 2, 2025
Our deepest condolences to the family. pic.twitter.com/1jl2RqURj2
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