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    Christian Atsu funeral today as thousands to gather in state ceremony for ex-Newcastle star killed in Turkey quake

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    FOOTBALL ace Christian Atsu will be laid to rest in Ghana today after he was killed in the horror Turkey earthquake.The ex-Newcastle and Chelsea winger, 31, was found dead almost two weeks after a devastating 7.8 magnitude quake caused his apartment building to collapse in Antakya last month.
    Ex-Newcastle star Christian Atsu was found dead 12 days after the Turkey earthquakeCredit: PA
    The rubble of the apartment block where the football star Atsu was foundCredit: Splash
    A state-assisted funeral will be held today for the football star in the Ghana’s capital, Accra, with thousands expected to file past the coffin to pay their respects.
    A memorial service will be held after at the Forecourt of the State House for the dad-of-three and he is due to be buried in his hometown, Dogobome.
    Ghana’s president, Nana Akufo-Addo, and Atsu’s devastated teammates are expected to attend.
    Atsu’s body arrived back home in Ghana to a guard of honour the day after he was found dead in the earthquake’s rubble on February 18.
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    Soldiers carried his coffin – draped in the national flag – past a crowd of mourners on the tarmac.
    The ex-Prem star played 65 times for Ghana’s national team and helped his side reach the final of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.
    He had been due to fly out of Turkey hours before the quake struck at 4am local time on February 6.
    But Atsu decided to stay with Hatayspor teammates after scoring the dramatic winner in a Super Lig match the day before.
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    The Turkish club, who Atsu signed with in September, initially said he had been rescued from his luxury apartment building.
    But the team doctor then said he was still missing, and his agent and family members then spent more than a week in a desperate search.
    His body was tragically found – 12 days after the horror 7.8-magnitude quake after confused earlier reports wrongly said he had been found alive amid the chaos.
    Rescue workers discovered Atsu’s body where he was staying at Ronesans Residence – a 12-storey block of flats that toppled over in Antakya city in Hatay.
    Atsu’s wife Marie-Claire Rupio and their three children joined fans marking a minute’s silence in Newcastle before the side’s Premier League tie against Liverpool last month.
    He began his Prem career with Chelsea, before moving to Newcastle United and Everton.
    More than 50,000 were killed in Turkey and Syria after two earthquakes hit within hours.
    And freezing conditions and difficulty getting aid to remote areas is fuelled a further humanitarian disaster.
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    The Sun Earthquake Appeal has now raised more than £1.5 million to support the Red Cross.
    A military honour guard carried Christian Atsu’s coffin from a plane in AccraCredit: AFP
    Atsu will be buried in his hometown in GhanaCredit: Getty More

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      Pele mourners line the streets to say final farewell to football legend at his boyhood club before he is laid to rest

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      PELE mourners lined the streets today at Santos football stadium to say a final farewell ahead of the legend’s funeral. Three-time World Cup winner Pele died on Thursday aged 82 after a long battle with cancer.
      Mourners stand in line outside Vila Belmiro stadiumCredit: Getty
      Fans line up to see Pele’s coffinCredit: Getty
      People line up to pay their respects to PeleCredit: AP
      Pallbearers carry the casket of Brazilian soccer legend PeleCredit: Reuters
      Pele’s widow Marcia Cibele Aoki and son Edinho as Pele lies in an open casketCredit: Reuters
      Pele died at the age of 82 after a long battle with cancerCredit: Getty
      His funeral will be held in the stadium where he played some of the best matches of his career.
      Pele had been receiving treatment for a tumour in his colon – but stopped responding to care.
      On Thurday evening the news broke that the greatest player in history has sadly passed away due to multiple organ failure as a result of his cancer.
      Pele died with his family by his side and holding his hand.
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      The South American nation is now preparing to say goodbye to the football legend as his funeral takes place today and tomorrow.
      His coffin arrived at the Santos pitch early on Monday after travelling from hospital in Sao Paulo.
      Pele will be placed in the centre of the field and fans will be able to pay their respects for 24 hours before a procession through the streets of Santos to celebrate the icon.
      Visitation will start at 10am today and finish on Tuesday at the same time.
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      Pele’s coffin will then be carried through the streets and will pass in front of the home of his 100-year-old mother, Celeste.
      The burial will take place at the Memorial Necropole Ecumenica and only family will attend.
      His final resting place will be in a unique “vertical cemetery” in a 14-floor building which includes 14,000 vaults, a waterfall and a car museum.
      It includes crypts, rooms to hold services, a crematorium, and a mausoleum “for families who want to preserve their legacy in a more personal and private way”.
      It even contains a tropical garden that includes a small rooftop cafe and a waterfall also.
      Brazil also announced three days of national mourning for Pele.
      Nicknamed The King, Pele won three World Cups with Brazil between 1958 and 1970 – the only player in football history to achieve the feat.
      His amazing haul of 1,279 goals in 1,363 games, which included friendlies, is recognised as a Guinness World Record.
      He also scored a remarkable 77 goals in 92 games for the national team – a record equalled by Neymar at the recent World Cup.
      The current Brazilian No.10 has led the huge outpouring of tributes to the late, great superstar along with modern day greats Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
      Pele made his debut for his local team Santos aged just 15 and won his first cap for the Brazil national team at 16. 
      He won the World Cup in 1958 aged just 17, and then won it again in 1962 and 1970.
      The South American superstar racked up 643 goals in 659 appearances for club side Santos across his 18-year spell.
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      He also played for the New York Cosmos and retired in 1977, in an exhibition match between the Cosmos and Santos.
      The hearse carrying Pele’s coffin arrives at Santos ahead of the football legend’s funeral in the stadiumCredit: Getty
      The hearse carrying the body of Pele arrives to the Vila Belmiro stadiumCredit: AP
      His funeral will be held in the stadium where he played some of the best matches of his careerCredit: AFP
      Pele will be placed in the centre of the field and fans will be able to pay their respects for 24 hoursCredit: AFP
      Brazil is preparing to say goodbye to the football legendCredit: AFP More

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      Pele’s funeral to include coffin on Santos’ pitch for 24 hours before it is taken past 100-year-old mum Celeste’s home

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      BRAZIL legend Pele’s funeral date has been revealed as next Tuesday, and his coffin will be placed on Santos’ pitch before being paraded past his bedbound mum’s house.Three-time World Cup winner Pele died on Thursday aged 82 after a long battle with cancer.
      Fans can pay their respects before Pele’s coffin is paraded past his 100-year-old mother’s house and buried at the Memorial Necropole EcumenicaCredit: Instagram
      Pele died on Thursday after a long battle with cancerCredit: EPA
      Former club Santos will house Pele’s coffin on Monday and TuesdayCredit: Reuters
      Visitation starts at 10am local time on MondayCredit: Reuters
      He had been receiving treatment for a tumour in his colon but stopped responding to care.
      Pele died with his family by his side and holding his hand.
      His funeral will take place next Monday and Tuesday, and his coffin will be placed on boyhood club Santos’ pitch, where members of the public will be able to pay their respects.
      Brazil also announced three days of national mourning for Pele.
      READ MORE ON PELE
      Visitation will start Monday at 10am and finish the next day at the same time.
      Pele’s coffin will then be carried through the streets and will pass in front of the home of his 100-year-old mother, Celeste.
      Local media reports say mother Celeste is bedbound.
      The burial will take place at the Memorial Necropole Ecumenica and only family will attend.
      Most read in Football
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      Daughter Kely Nasicmento said on the passing of her father: “Everything we are is thanks to you.
      “We love you infinitely. Rest in peace.”
      Tributes have poured in from across the football world.
      Past and present stars have taken to social media to pay their respects.
      The football world has paid tribute to the football iconCredit: Getty
      Brazil announced three days of mourningCredit: AP
      Wembley paid tribute to Pele with a picture alongside England World Cup-winning captain Bobby MooreCredit: PA More