Abdul-Hayye Yartey, CEO of Cheetah FC has said the late Christian Atsu was a devoted Christian whose relationship with his Creator was very cordial.
He says the youngster’s steadfastness with God even during his teenage days is something that shows how close he was with God.
“Christian [Atsu] was a Christian. His devotion to God as a footballer was something untold.” Mr. Yartey said when asked about the distinguished character of the footballer off the pitch.
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Speaking with Captain Smart on Maakye Monday, February 20, 2023, the man who discovered Atsu and managed him indicated he had a covenant with God to give him his first three months salary after joining FC Porto which he honoured.
“When he joined Porto, they said they will give him €800 and after his first month, I received an alert from Western Union and I was so happy. Then he called and said I’ve sent you some money and I said yes, I’ve seen it. Then he told me ‘please give the money to the church behind our house’. He had converted everything and knew the equivalence in Ghana Cedis and he asked me to give the money to the pastor.
“So I asked him, ‘but what will you eat? And he said they feed them there and I said what about me and told me he had a covenant with God to give his first 3 months salary to Him so I should just give the money to the pastor. To be very honest it was difficult for me to do but I had to do it because it was a covenant between him and God,” he narrated.
Aside from his relationship with God, the Cheetah FC CEO said “on the field of play, his intelligence, speed and quickness with the sharp left foot made him unique. Aside that, he was mentally strong.”
He added that Atsu was one grateful person he raised as a manager who never forgot his roots.
Mr. Yartey said Atsu bought him a Jeep and used to advise the young players whenever he visited, never to forget their roots when they make it because “the man spending the little he has on them today will make them who they will become tomorrow.”
Christian Atsu was found dead Saturday, February 18, 2023 under a rubble in Turkey following an earthquake that struck the southern part of the country and northern Syria.
A search was mounted for the former Everton, Chelsea and Newcastle star for almost two weeks before he was found.
His mortal remains was sent to Accra Sunday, February 19, where he was received by the family and some government officials.
Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia assured the family.of government’s full support in burying the 2015 AFCON Player of the Tournament.
READ ALSO: ‘From him we came and to him shall we return’ – Bawumia pays tribute to Atsu
By Felix Anim-Appau|Onuaonline.com
