Black weekend:Former Togo goalie, 5 others perish
*Welsh manager commits suicide
The Togo football federation says former national team goalkeeper Charles Balogou was among six people killed when a bus carrying players and officials from Etoile Filante Football club plunged into a ravine and caught fire.
Federation spokesman Aime Ekpe said another 25 people from the Etoile Filante delegation—19 of
them players—plus the driver were injured in Saturday’s crash.
Football clubs across England where Gary Speed played have said they are stunned by his death.
Cheshire Police confirmed he was found dead at 07:08 GMT at his home in Huntington, Chester. They said there were no suspicious circumstances.
Leeds United said the club was “stunned and saddened” to hear of his death. The flags at Elland Road are flying at half-mast as a mark of respect.
In a statement on the club’s website, Sheffield United – where Speed was made manager following the departure of Kevin Blackwell – said: “Everybody at Sheffield United is extremely shocked and saddened to learn of the death of former player and manager Gary Speed.
“Thoughts are with Gary’s family and friends at this distressing time.”
After confirming the death, the Football Association of Wales released the following statement: ‘We extend our sympathies and condolences to the family. We ask that everyone respects the family’s privacy at this very sad time.’
Speed had been in charge of the national team since December 2010, and had recently presided over a run of four wins in five internationals to climb to 50th in the world rankings.
Speed had previously served the Welsh national team with distinction as a player, winning 85 caps in a 14-year international career.
His greatest moment at club level came in 1992 when he won the championship with Leeds, while he was twice an FA Cup runner-up with Newcastle.
Speed also represented Everton, Bolton and Sheffield United in 22-year professional career which saw him make nearly 700 league appearances.
Bolton have expressed their “deepest sadness” at the death of Speed.
“Bolton Wanderers is deeply saddened to hear of the death of former player and club captain Gary Speed and wish to extend our deepest sympathy to his family,” read a statement on the club’s official website.
Bolton chairman Phil Gartside added: “We are all stunned at the news of Gary.
“Not only was he a top-class professional but was a wonderful person who is very fondly remembered by all of us and our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with his family at this time.”
Speed began his career at Leeds in 1988 and was a key memeber of their Championship-winning side under Howard Wilkinson in 1992. He moved on to Everton in 1996, then Newcastle and spent four years at the Reebok Stadium. He made a total of 121 appearances for Wanderers.
Ekpe said Sunday that club secretary general Christophe Dagdovi, deputy coach Isidore Kouma, a female reporter attached to the club, a cook and a team doctor were killed alongside Balogou in the accident in Glei, about 130 kilometers north of the capital Lome.
“As part of the fifth day of the national football championship in first division, the team of the Etoile Filante was on their way to play against Sokode Semassi when they were the victim of a serious traffic accident this Saturday, November 26 2011 at about 11 o’clock at the entrance to Glei in the prefecture of Ogou.
“Unfortunately, we can confirm six deaths and serious injuries.
“Having learned the sad news, the president of the Togolese Football Federation [Rock Balakiyem Gnassingbe] went immediately to the scene – to inquire into the circumstances of the accident and provide support to Etoile Filante.
“The Togolese Football Federation expresses its condolences to the bereaved families and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured, said a Togolese Football Federation statement.
In January 2010r two members of the Togo national team were killed after their bus came under gun attack in Angola.
