Hatayspor FC has still not been able to locate Christian Atsu after being told the Ghanaian winger was in hospital following an earthquake.
Atsu, who plays for Super Lig club Hatayspor, was reported to be missing, along with sporting director Taner Savut, in the aftermath of the tremors.
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The vice-president of the Turkish club had on Monday stated that the winger is in the debris of the deadly earthquake that has killed more than 11,000 people in Turkey and Syria.
The Vice-President returned on Tuesday to say that Atsu had been found alive after being buried under the rubble.
“Christian Atsu was pulled out injured. Our sporting director, Taner Savut, is unfortunately still under the rubble,” club vice president Mustafa Ozat told Radyo Gol.
In a new twist, the club has stated that it could not locate Atsu when the club made contact with the hospital.
In a statement reported by Hurriyet, Hatayspor doctor Gurbey Kahveci said: “[The club were told] ‘He was taken to Dortyol Hospital’ and when the news came, we went and looked, but he is not there.
“Unfortunately, we accept that Taner and Christian Atsu have not been found at the moment.”
Hatayspor coach Volkan Demirel was frustrated the initial update – welcomed by Atsu’s former club Newcastle and the Ghana Football Association – had been passed on.
“Please do not write that he was saved without being sure,” Demirel told Hurriyet. “People have families. Hopes, sorrows, pains are increasing.
“Please do not write that he was saved without being sure,” Demirel told Hurriyet. “People have families. Hopes, sorrows, pains are increasing.
“There is no news from Atsu and Taner Savut yet. Wouldn’t I share it if they were in the hospital? I’ll share it as soon as the news comes.”
Describing his own experiences in recent days, the coach added: “We’ve been through a lot of hard things.
“We took the people who came to believe in me out of a thin gap, a gap where even the weather would be difficult, and thankfully they all survived.
“People are working day and night, I hope they will both be saved. The whole team took refuge in their families. As the information comes, I share everything.”
Christian Atsu, a former Porto, Chelsea and Newcastle United player joined Turkish Super Lig club Hatayspor on 6 September 2022, on an initial one-year contract with the option for a further year.
Nnamdi Maduakor is a Writer, Investor and Entrepreneur
