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Former Black Stars player Nii Ayi Welbeck has passed on after suffering from short illness on Wednesday. The 38-year-old was part of the Ghana national football team squad at the 1996 Summer Olympics, appearing in two matches. He played several matches for the senior national team, including qualifiers for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. Welbeck played for Swiss Nationalliga B club FC Winterthur in 1996 and �anakkale Dardanelspor in the Turkish S�per Lig during the 1996-97 season. He spent the 1997/98 season with Kallithea F.C. in the Greek second division, before signing forh Okwawu United. Welbeck retired from football in 2002. The Professional Footballers Association of Ghana has however paid tribute to the Takoradi-born player. "The Professional Footballers Association of Ghana has lost a friend a brother and a colleague. The Pfag family is very saddened by the lost of the Ex International and former Black Stars Player Nii Ayi Welbeck. All the members of the Pfag send their condolences to the Welbeck family. May his soul rest in perfect peace. On behalf of the Professional Footballers Association of Ghana and members," president of the association, Tony Baffoe wrote.