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Stefan Kuntz has been the coach of the Turkish national football team since September 2021
Photo: ERDEM SAHIN/EPA
Turkey's national soccer coach Stefan Kuntz expressed his concern at the many victims of the severe earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
"The tragedy is huge," Kuntz told the sports information service.
He could "hardly understand all this".
"Because you can publicly follow the fate of so many people, my dismay is enormous." Kuntz said his thoughts constantly revolved around the up to 23 million people affected, according to estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO).
»You have to imagine the situation of many victims like this: you are trapped under the rubble, you can take a video of yourself with your cell phone or send the point of view.
You can shout, say or write: 'Here the water is rising', 'It's collapsing on me' or 'I'm getting less and less air'«, said Kuntz: »But the rescue workers don't even get to you.« Kuntz' He recognizes and respects the rescue workers and helpers.
Soccer professional Türkaslan among the victims
The help for second division goalkeeper Ahmet Eyüp Türkaslan came too late.
The 28-year-old goalkeeper of first division relegated Yeni Malatyaspor could only be recovered dead from the rubble of a collapsed house on Tuesday.
"Rest in peace.
We will never forget you, you great person," wrote his club on social networks.
According to Kuntz, Turkish national players are “fortunately not affected”.
He is in contact with his fellow coaches from the regions concerned.
The national team also participates in a donation account of the Turkish Football Association.
The sport in Turkey will rest in the coming days.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has ordered a week of national mourning.
All football games are canceled to allow everyone to look after family and friends.
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