How Bekoe was revived

Posted 11/03/08  23:30 GMT

By Thomas Boakye-Agyeman, Kumasi

Kumasi Asante Kotoko striker Eric Bekoe has revealed to the Kotoko Express of the horrific experience he went through as he gallantly fought for his life for almost one and half hours after Kotoko drew goalless with Hearts of Oak at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium, Accra.

The player collapsed in the Kotoko team bus while the Porcupine Warriors were on their way back to Kumasi after the match and it took prayers and efforts by players, officials, journalists as well as nurses at the Nsawam clinic to fully revive the player.

It all started around 6.45 PM when the Kotoko team bus made a brief stop to fuel the bus at Amasaman, a suburb of Accra. It was raining and the Kotoko bus was given a hectic time moving through traffic to get to that area. Team manager Opoku Afriyie asked the players to move out of the bus and take their supper before continuing the journey.

Bekoe was at this stage talking to his father on his cell phone and was heard telling his father that he was tired and wanted to sleep. That was the last word he spoke, at least for the next two hours. All the players went for their supper except Bekoe, which was unusual. His phone also rang several times but he never bothered to even look as to who was calling. It was this that drew the suspicion of Acheampong, a member of the Kotoko security team who went to where Bekoe was sitting.

He asked if Bekoe was alright but the player made a gesture that he wanted to talk to him. Acheampong drew nearer but Bekoe could only whisper that he felt dizzy and immediately passed out.

“I was confused as to what was happening and did not know what to do. I started calling out his name and touched him but he did not respond so I started shouting on top of my voice, which drew the attention of the rest of the colleagues, who were eating near the car” said Acheampong.

Omono Asamoah and the players started pouring water on Bekoe at this stage while others shouted “Bekoe Bekoe, Eric, Eric” all in an attempt to revive him. A bus arrived at the scene full of travelling Kotoko supporters some of whom started crying while others sadly watched what was going on.

The Christians in the bus led by Osei Kwame prayed as they made a ring around Bekoe who was lying prostrate on the floor of the bus after which goalkeeper Abdoulaye Soulama also led prayers in Islam. Bekoe was rushed to the Nsawam Government Hospital after first aid was applied where about five nurses immediately attended to him. His blood pressure was taken and it was 128, which the nurses described as normal.

He was revived partially around 7.55PM as he opened his eyes and seemed surprised by his “new environment”. He was finding it very difficult to breathe at first but gradually did that after being given injection and put on a drip. He could barely utter a word and when he did, he on three occasions asked for the whereabouts of his best pal Nii Adjei. His colleague was called to his bed side and that brought a brief smile on his face. After a few minutes, Bekoe looked better and asked this reporter what happened to him.

It was at this stage that Kotoko’s Management Board Chairman Sylvester Asare-Owusu arrived at the hospital with the Deputy Minister of Interior K.T Hammond after they heard of the incident in Accra. They briefly talked to the player who complained of pains in the hip and showed to them deep cuts all over his body.

He was discharged after 9.00pm but with the drip still being administered as Bekoe joined the team bus to continue the journey to Kumasi.

Asked what actually happened on the field between him and the Hearts defenders, Bekoe, an unknown critic of referees said he blames his near death on Referee Cecil Fletcher and his assistants. He said they were the ones who failed to protect him and his other colleagues who were at the receiving end of vicious tackles from the Hearts of Oak wrestlers.

“We lack strikers in our local league so why can’t we protect the few we have but rather leave them to be butchered. I will like to watch the second half again because I did not see anything; I was just walking on the field. I have never complained about any referee before but I must say Fletcher did not do well at all. I complained several times to him about what Coleman was doing but he always told me to play on”

“We are supposed to be professionals but the amateurish attitude by Kofi Gari (Coleman) should not be tolerated. I have played against him some few years ago when I was with Mighty Jets. He was with Power FC then and I scored two goals in that match after outwitting him and I understand he has neither forgotten that day nor forgiven me, though he talks good about my striking abilities”, recounted Bekoe.

Bekoe tells the Kotoko Express that Coleman continuously swore on the field that he will do everything possible through foul or fair means to make sure Bekoe does not score against Hearts and even went to the extent of saying that he will rather be shown a red card than allowing Bekoe to score.

Bekoe says he is very disappointed that Kotoko could not defeat Hears but gave thanks to the Lord for his life, and the fact that Kotoko lead the second placed team Lions by 7 points.

“God is in control and I know he will give us another chance to punish Hearts. We will for now concentrate on our training and clear the match against Arsenal which is a tough match at Berekum” Bekoe said.