Marie-Claire Rupio, the widow of Ghanaian footballer Christian Atsu who passed away, has opened up about the moment she informed her children that their father was no more.
According to her, the confusion surrounding Atsu’s whereabouts had a profound impact on the entire family, and it wasn’t easy to tell the children that their father had died. Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Rupio stated that she couldn’t even cry when her husband’s death was confirmed, adding that her body just shut down.
“I couldn’t really cry because I was in shock. I didn’t want to believe [it was true]. I think my body just shut down,” she said. “The next morning, the kids were playing football and I didn’t want to take that away from them. After [that], I had to sit them down and explain. It’s not easy. It’s not something you would wish on anyone,” she added.
Christian Atsu passed away on Saturday, February 18, 2023, after his lifeless body was recovered from the debris following the earthquake in Turkey. This came after days of intense searching following the devastating earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria in mid-February.
The former Chelsea and Newcastle United winger was later laid to rest on Friday, March 17, 2022, in his hometown of Ada. Atsu and Rupio had three children together, and the widow hopes that his name will remain forever in people’s memories. “For me, it’s very important that his name is always there, especially for the children, that he’s known, that he’s loved by everyone. I just hope his name never goes away,” she added.
