Turkish national team makes emotional visit to Soma

MANİSA

AA Photo

The Turkish national football team has performed a special visit to the town of Soma, where a tragic mine accident claimed the lives of 301 workers last week.

Headed by Coach Fatih Terim, the players extended their condolences to the families of the victims and attended a religious ceremony at a mosque in Soma.

The players also laid carnations at the graves of the victims before speaking with some of the survivors who miraculously escaped from the disaster.

One of the star players of the squad, Fenerbahçe defender Gökhan Gönül, was unable to hold back tears during the ceremony at the mosque.

“I don’t know how much we can do to ease the pain of the people here. I want to express my condolences for the families of the victims and wish them patience,” Gönül said.

Terim also described the visit to Soma as “overwhelming.” “It is clear that we should attach more importance to human life. We should be united and in solidarity, not only in such moments but all of the time,” Terim said.

The captain and goalkeeper of Beşiktaş, Tolga Zengin, stressed that the accident demonstrated the need to improve workers’ conditions. “If only such incidents did not happen to make this heard, but at least we have to improve [conditions] for the future,” Zengin said.

Turkish Football Federation (TFF) President Yıldırım Demirören, meanwhile, promised to make investments in the town to develop Soma’s football facilities.