German Bundesliga 2 club, Fortuna Düsseldorf has announced the tragic passing of Newton Opoku-Mensah, a youth team player of Ghanaian descent.
The club reported that Opoku-Mensah was involved in a swimming accident at a lake in Duisburg.
Despite rescue efforts, he succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
Wir trauern um U17-Spieler Newton Opoku-Mensah, der gestern nach einem Badeunfall verstorben ist. Das Mitgefühl der gesamten Fortuna-Familie gilt den Angehörigen, dem gesamten Team der U17 & den Mitarbeiterinnen & Mitarbeitern im NLZ 🕊️🕯️🙏
👉 https://t.co/fNVc3Dx58P#f95 | 🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/sU6PME0gvK— Fortuna Düsseldorf (@f95) July 31, 2024
“Training and matches for all youth teams, from U9 to U19, have been suspended until further notice. The Fortuna family extends its condolences to Newton’s relatives, the entire U17 team, and the staff at the youth development centre,” the club stated.
Klaus Allofs, Board Member for Sports & Communication at Fortuna Düsseldorf, expressed deep sorrow: “We are deeply shocked and cannot fathom this news. Newton was a young man who was living his dream and has now passed away far too soon. Our heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathy go out to Newton’s family and relatives, as well as to all his teammates and the entire team at our youth performance centre.”
In response to this tragedy, all training and match operations for Fortuna’s youth teams, from U9 to U19, have been suspended indefinitely.
The first match of the season for Düsseldorf’s U17 team, initially scheduled for August 11 against VfL Bochum, has been postponed.
