Ghana Badminton Veterans’ star, Ebenezer Affaidu downs the court during the 2022 Open All Ghana Championship game, serving his last serve and catches an alley shuttle-over serve to go down on an emphatic sit down, and, having earlier taken part in a regular aerobics’ session lasting an hour and pre-game warmup to the rear court area, he fell unconscious playing his favourite game.
Although he briefly regained consciousness, he was rushed to the Emergency Unit of Korle Bu Teaching hospital, about 530 meters distance where medical staff tried to resuscitate him on abrupt loss of heart function, breathing and unconsciousness.
Affaidu, the 59-year-old was a veteran of the sport of badminton, having led its promotion and development in Ghana in the last three decades in especially the Central Region, teaching the sport in schools, craving and budding young lads was his passion – some of who currently play in the national badminton team.
The late Ebenezer Affaidu (middle) at one of many badminton events he attended
He also led the ‘Badminton in Schools Shuttle Time Project’ in the Central Region, having taken part in the Badminton Association of Ghana’s maiden 2018 Shuttle Time Coaching Education initiatives.
“As customary as we are, we have reached out to the family and our hearts goes out to them in this trembling difficult times, some of whom were with us during the medical closing session. Affaidu’s name is often brought up as a cautionary tale of any sports person diagnosed with a recurrent heart condition whose passion for sport drove love, peace, and harmony to all,” said a (Badminton Association of Ghana) BAG statement.
“The Ghana Badminton family in announcing this tragic circumstance, that, Affaidu died, leaving us the memory of an incarnation of sport essence in life, and that we are all better people with our maker having the opportunity to know him and be his friend, brother, and wise counsel,” it added.
The 2022 All Ghana Open Championship event ended on July 11, 2022 and the largest participants of 683 matches in a thrilled pack Sub Juniors, Juniors , Seniors and Veterans from across all the 16 regions of Ghana.
The National Association is directing all shuttles in play to observe a minute silence for the next 30 days of playing activity across the country. In our solemn grace of condolence, we will await more information and direction from the family -Indeed we are all in shock, hurt and our soul bruised but the Lord heals – may his soul rest in perfect peace.
Please send in your condolence https://www.remembr.com/ebenezer.affaidu
Credit: Ghana Badminton Association
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