“Pooley’s Killer Said He Has Been Contracted From Berekum and If We Approach Him He Will Stab Us Too” – Kotoko’s Team Security
Kotoko team security recounts the horrifying events that led to the fatal stabbing of Nana Pooley during a violent clash at Nsoatreman FC's stadium.
- Pooley was fatally stabbed by an attacker who claimed to have been contracted from Berekum
- Police response during the incident was questioned
- Kotoko’s team security prevented Nsoatreman fans from blocking the team’s entry
Kumasi Asante Kotoko’s team security officer, Adongo, has given a chilling account of the brutal stabbing of Nana Pooley during the club’s Ghana Premier League match against Nsoatreman FC at Nana Konamansah Park in Nsoatre.
Nana Pooley, who was known privately as Yaw Frimpong, tragically lost his life after being fatally stabbed during violent clashes following Kotoko’s 1-0 defeat to Nsoatreman FC, with substitute Gabriel Bonnah scoring the decisive goal.
Hostile Reception and Rising Tensions
Speaking on the Lawson Sports show with King Eben, Adongo recalled the chaotic events leading up to the attack.
He shared that the Kotoko team bus arrived at Nana Konamansah Park around 1:30 PM on Sunday, only to be confronted by Nsoatreman FC supporters who tried to prevent the team from entering the stadium.
“We always ensure the players and technical team are well-protected when they arrive and while warming up. But that day, Nsoatreman fans attempted to block us. We reminded them of the warm hospitality we showed them when they came to Kumasi, but they didn’t seem to care,” Adongo explained.
Escalating Violence During the Match
The situation worsened as the match continued. At halftime, Baffour Awuah, a Nsoatreman official, went to speak with Kotoko’s Akwasi Appiah to resolve a disagreement between the players. But Pooley, upset by the hostile atmosphere, prevented Appiah from responding.
Adongo stated that Baffour Awuah then provoked Nsoatreman fans to confront the Kotoko team. “Baffour incited them to come and remove me from the stadium, and they started beating me. They later dragged Pooley out as well.”
The Fatal Stabbing
As the situation became more dangerous, Adongo revealed that a woman wearing a Nsoatreman FC jersey identified Pooley to the attackers. “She threw a stone at him, but he managed to dodge it.”
Moments later, a man suddenly appeared from the crowd and stabbed Pooley. Adongo recalled hearing Pooley shout, “Eeii Kwadwo, he has stabbed me!” in his final moments.
The situation took an even more sinister turn when the assailant warned anyone who tried to intervene. “A man named Habib tried to approach the attacker, but he was threatened. The assailant told him, ‘If you come close, I will stab you too because I’m from Berekum, and I have been contracted.’”
Police Inaction Raises Concerns
Adongo also shared that a police officer initially pursued the culprit but then inexplicably stopped and returned, leaving many questioning the response from law enforcement during such a critical moment.
This brutal attack on Pooley has shocked the Ghanaian football community, sparking outrage and renewed calls for better security measures and fan management at football matches.
