Latest news with #FEGAFOOT
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
28-year-old former MLS player dies after falling from 11th floor balcony in China
Former MLS and Gabon forward Aaron Boupendza has died aged 28 following a fall from the 11th floor of a building in China, local authorities confirmed. The striker, who played for FC Cincinnati and Romanian club Rapid București, joined Chinese Super League side Zhejiang FC earlier this year. The Hangzhou Public Security Bureau confirmed that officials responded to the player's rental residence after receiving reports from the public of someone falling from a building at 1:14 p.m. local time on Wednesday. 'Our bureau quickly organized police forces to deal with the situation, and immediately sent the injured to the hospital for treatment. The injured was later declared dead in the hospital,' the bureau said in a statement posted on its official Weibo page, confirming Boupendza's identity. 'After on-site investigation, visits and interviews of relevant parties by public security officers, and checking surveillance videos, it was found that he died after falling from the balcony of his rental residence, and a criminal case was ruled out,' the authorities confirmed. Zhejiang FC said in a statement that it was 'fully cooperating with the relevant departments to carry out the investigation.' 'All the staff of the club express their deepest condolences to his family,' the club added. FEGAFOOT paid homage to the striker in a statement posted on X on Wednesday: 'Aged 28, Boupendza will be remembered as a great striker, who left a lasting impression at the AFCON in Cameroon. 'FEGAFOOT and the entire Gabonese soccer community offer their sincere condolences to his family in this difficult time,' the statement concluded. Interim Gabon president Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema said on X: 'It is with great sadness that I learned of the tragic passing of Aaron Boupendza, a talented center forward who brought honor to Gabonese football. I offer my sincere condolences to his family and loved ones. May God bless his soul.'
CNN
17-04-2025
- Sport
- CNN
28-year-old former MLS player dies after falling from 11th floor balcony in China
Former MLS and Gabon forward Aaron Boupendza has died aged 28 following a fall from the 11th floor of a building in China, local authorities confirmed. The striker, who played for FC Cincinnati and Romanian club Rapid București, joined Chinese Super League side Zhejiang FC earlier this year. The Hangzhou Public Security Bureau confirmed that officials responded to the player's rental residence after receiving reports from the public of someone falling from a building at 1:14 p.m. local time on Wednesday. 'Our bureau quickly organized police forces to deal with the situation, and immediately sent the injured to the hospital for treatment. The injured was later declared dead in the hospital,' the bureau said in a statement posted on its official Weibo page, confirming Boupendza's identity. 'After on-site investigation, visits and interviews of relevant parties by public security officers, and checking surveillance videos, it was found that he died after falling from the balcony of his rental residence, and a criminal case was ruled out,' the authorities confirmed. Zhejiang FC said in a statement that it was 'fully cooperating with the relevant departments to carry out the investigation.' 'All the staff of the club express their deepest condolences to his family,' the club added. FEGAFOOT paid homage to the striker in a statement posted on X on Wednesday: 'Aged 28, Boupendza will be remembered as a great striker, who left a lasting impression at the AFCON in Cameroon. 'FEGAFOOT and the entire Gabonese soccer community offer their sincere condolences to his family in this difficult time,' the statement concluded. Interim Gabon president Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema said on X: 'It is with great sadness that I learned of the tragic passing of Aaron Boupendza, a talented center forward who brought honor to Gabonese football. I offer my sincere condolences to his family and loved ones. May God bless his soul.'
New York Times
16-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Former FC Cincinnati striker Aaron Boupendza dies aged 28
Former FC Cincinnati player Aaron Boupendza has died at the age of 28 after reportedly falling from his 11th-floor residence in China. The Gabonese striker was living in China and playing for Chinese Super League club Zhejiang FC. 'We are saddened to hear of the tragic passing of former FC Cincinnati forward Aaron Boupendza earlier today at his home in China,' FC Cincinnati said in a statement. 'Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and teammates. He was a loved member of the FC Cincinnati family, and we offer our condolences to all who knew him.' Advertisement FEGAFOOT, the Gabonese football federation, said in its statement that Boupendza had fallen from the 11th floor of his building in China. 'Boupendza is remembered as a great striker who made his mark during the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon,' wrote FEGAFOOT. 'The Gabonese football community offers their sincere condolences to his family during this difficult time.' Boupendza joined Cincinnati in the summer of 2023 as a designated player, initially signed to a four-year contract. He spent only a single season in Cincinnati, scoring seven goals in 24 appearances. His time at the club was not without controversy — in 2024, Boupendza suffered a broken jaw in a barfight with a professional boxer. Boupendza's contract was terminated several months later, after he missed several weeks of training. Boupendza's club career was long and varied, with stops at 12 clubs in under a decade, having played in France, Portugal, Romania, the United States, Turkey, China, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Internationally, Boupendza featured for Gabon 35 times, scoring eight goals. Gabonese President-elect Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema paid tribute to Boupendza in a post on X on Wednesday morning. 'It is with great sadness that I learned of the tragic passing of Aaron Boupendza, a talented center forward who brought honor to Gabonese football,' wrote Nguema. 'I offer my sincere condolences to his family and loved ones. May God bless his soul.' (Katie Stratman-Imagn Images)
The Independent
16-04-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Former MLS star Aaron Boupendza dies after falling from building in China
Former MLS star and Gabon international Aaron Boupendza has died aged 28 after falling from a building in China. Boupendza, who joined Zhejiang FC earlier this year, was in good form with four goals in six matches. He was previously at FC Cincinnati between 2023 and 2024, where he came up against the likes of Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets. "At 28, Boupendza is remembered as a great striker who left a lasting impression at the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon (in 2022)," FEGAFOOT, the Gabonese football federation, said in a statement. "Trained at CF Mounana and Bordeaux in France, the Gabonese striker joined the Chinese league after a brief spell in Romania. "FEGAFOOT and the great family of Gabonese soccer offer his biological family their sincere condolences in this difficult time." Authorities in China have launched an investigation to find out whether the fall was an accident, suicide, or the result of foul play, media reports in Romania said. There was no official confirmation for the cause of death. "It is with great sadness that I learn of the tragic death of Aaron Boupendza, a talented centre-forward who brought honour to Gabonese soccer," Gabon president Brice Oligui Nguema said. "I offer my sincere condolences to his family and friends. May God bless his soul." The forward played for several clubs in France after first making an impression at former Ligue 1 side Bordeaux, before turning out for the likes of Al-Arabi in Qatar, Saudi side Al-Shabab and Romanian outfit Rapid Bucuresti.
Reuters
16-04-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Gabon forward Boupendza dies aged 28
April 16 (Reuters) - Gabon forward Aaron Boupendza has died at 28 following a fall from the 11th floor of a building in China, the Gabonese Football Federation (FEGAFOOT) said on Wednesday. Boupendza, who joined Zhejiang FC earlier this year, was in good form with four goals in six matches. "At 28, Boupendza is remembered as a great striker who left a lasting impression at the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon (in 2022)," FEGAFOOT said in a statement. "Trained at CF Mounana and Bordeaux in France, the Gabonese striker joined the Chinese league after a brief spell in Romania. "FEGAFOOT and the great family of Gabonese soccer offer his biological family their sincere condolences in this difficult time." Authorities in China have launched an investigation to find out whether the fall was an accident, suicide, or the result of foul play, media reports in Romania said. There was no official confirmation for the cause of death. "It is with great sadness that I learn of the tragic death of Aaron Boupendza, a talented centre-forward who brought honour to Gabonese soccer," Gabon President Brice Oligui Nguema said. "I offer my sincere condolences to his family and friends. May God bless his soul." The forward played for several clubs in France, Turkey, Qatar, the United States and China.
