YEL: ‘Outpouring of love and sadness’ after death of 13-year-old footballer

THE Young Elizabethan League has spoken of the organisation’s “devastation” after a 13-year-old footballer died after collapsing during a game on Saturday.

Samuel Akwasi was playing for FC Cavaliers under-13s against WBCY FC Rossoneri at The Forest Recreation ground’s grass pitches at the time.

YEL CEO Rob Harwood has now issued a statement about Samuel’s death. It said: “We are devastated over the tragic events that unfolded on Saturday morning.

“A young Cavaliers player, Samuel Akwasi, collapsed on the pitch after suffering a Sudden Cardiac Arrest.

“Despite the best efforts of those present, and the quick application of a defibrillator, along with the speedy response of the emergency services, Samuel sadly passed away in the Queen’s Medical Centre.

“The league is one of the biggest youth leagues in the country with over 15,000 registered Under 7 to Under 14 children representing over 1,200 teams that play the game every weekend across the East Midlands.

“The last thing any of us as parents, coaches or league officials would ever think about is someone not coming home. The outpouring of love and sadness on our YEL Facebook has been immense with over 2,000 reactions, many from parents and teams who can’t begin to understand or start to put into words the grief they feel for Samuel’s family, friends and FC Cavaliers – an inner city club which has a genuine community feel to it.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to his family and friends, as well as FC Cavaliers, at this awful time. The club will be issuing a statement in due course, but in the meantime we would ask that the privacy of the family and the club is respected.”