Ex-Hearts of Oak Player Dies in Singapore

Manawatu AFC (New Zealand) has lost its star Ghanaian soccer import, Fariq Mohammed, before he even arrived in New Zealand, after he died in an accident. Manawatu had signed Mohammed for the upcoming national league season.
Manawatu chairman Mike Behrens said he had received a phone call from Mohammed\'s wife in Singapore on Sunday night to say her husband had died. \"She was very distraught. From what we can make out he died from a massive cerebral trauma of some sort,\" Behrens said.
\"His wife said he\'d fallen on to concrete and the death certificate indicates he died about four hours later.\"
Behrens said the club was upset at the tragedy.
\"We\'d had a fair bit of contact with him before he had signed for us. He couldn\'t wait to get out here and start playing.\" Mohammed\'s air fares were paid for and he had been due to arrive in Palmerston North on February 26. Behrens said the club had intended bringing two overseas players into the country to bolster Manawatu\'s national league team.
\"He was our only import at the present time but we\'ve already begun negotiating with other players to fill the gaps - nothing is settled yet though.\"
Mohammed played for Hearts of Oak based in the capital of Ghana, Accra, but also played professionally in Singapore, where he died. Mohammed had also had trials with English side Burnley, but had been unable to secure a work permit to play.
club website at: http://www.geocities.com/genesismanawatu/