Ghana international Christian Atsu has yet to be seen following the devastating earthquake in Turkey earlier this week, according to Hatayspor team doctor Gurbey Kahveci.
The 31-year-old was reported to have been rescued from the wreckage after 26 hours on Tuesday, February 6, putting Ghanaians at ease. According to Turkish media, the player was pulled out alive with only minor injuries and was taken to the hospital.
However, Kahveci, the team doctor for the club Atsu plays for, stated on Wednesday that both the player and the sporting director, Taner Savut, have yet to be found.
“When we heard that “he was taken to Dortyol Hospital,” we went out of our way to look for him, but he wasn’t there. “For the time being, we accept that [sporting director]Taner Savut and Christian Atsu have not been found, which is unfortunate,” he said.
Earlier in the day on Wednesday, Joy Sports spoke with Ghana’s Ambassador to Turkey, Francisca Ashietey-Odunton, who said she and her team are unsure of the 31-year-whereabouts old’s but are continuing to make efforts.
“Yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here informed me that they wanted to confirm whether Christian Atsu had been found, rescued, and taken to a medical facility. However, in the midst of the chaos – which is understandable given the circumstances [as you are rescued, you are placed in an ambulance and taken to the hospital]– they are unsure of which hospital or health facility he has been sent to,” she explained.
“This morning, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs assured me that they are working feverishly to find out which facility he was sent to and will get back to me as soon as possible because I have been insisting on seeing him.
“I am in Ankara, Turkey’s capital, which is in the middle of the country. The disaster occurred in the country’s southernmost region. All airports have been closed, as have all roads. Except for the rescue mission, no one is permitted. So, as a mission, we can rely on the host Ministry, which has an obligation to keep us informed of what happens to our compatriots.
“However, together with members of the Ghanaian community who live here and including some of them who were at the site of the disaster, we have been working hand-in-hand with them to get whatever information we can get not only about Christian Atsu but also about other Ghanaians.
“I am relieved and thankful that, with the exception of Christian Atsu, all Ghanaians have been found. We didn’t have many in the area, and the majority of them were students. We had students in the worst-affected areas, which included Adana, Marash provinces, and Gazantiep. We have been in contact with them through members of the Ghanaian community, and I hope and intend to evacuate them to Ankara today.”
Ghanaians are deeply concerned about the situation, as a sense of frustration and fear about the 31-year-fate old has crept in.
Meanwhile, Mubarak Wakaso, a fellow Ghana international and close friend of Atsu, confirmed on Wednesday morning that Atsu is currently missing.
