Nigerian international, Emmanuel Emenike, escaped death on Saturday, April 05, 2015 after his Turkish club’s Fenerbahce’s team bus was shot at by a gunman after the Super Lig leaders 5-1 victory at Rizespor.
The driver was taken to hospital but no player suffered any injury in the attack, which happened while they were travelling to Trabzon airport.
Prime Minister of Turkey, Ahmet Davutoglu said an investigation was under way.
The Turkish Football Federation condemned the attack and the club’s General Secretary Mahmut Uslu said the incident was “very wrong”. “We come here to do sport, we come to play football,” Uslu said.
The governor of Trabzon, which is in the north-east of Turkey, had initially said the bus appeared to have been hit by a stone but he later released a second statement, saying it seemed to have been a bullet. “The latest situation is that it appears to be a gun,” governor Abdulcelil Oz said. “It is too soon to say anything definite, but it appears to be a type of bullet fired by a rifle.”
BBC Sport reports that the driver was taken to hospital, but no players were injured in the attack which Emenike described as a ‘scary moment’.
“The incident left several players in shock on a day we should be celebrating a big away win,” Emenike told BBC Sport.
“I was on the phone with my brother when I heard the loud sound and I thought one of our tyres had busted because the bus was swerving on the road”.
“But when I found our security officer in front of the bus I knew something must have gone awfully wrong.”
The 27 year old Emenike says it was not long before they realized someone had been hurt.
“We quickly realized the security guy was the one who hit the break, and he said the driver [who was already soaked in blood] had been shot.
“The word ‘shot’ came as a big shock but when we saw blood and the shattered driver’s side window, it quickly turned into a scary moment for everyone on the bus.”
He continued: “It’s unbelievable that some people actually fired shots at our bus and the driver was badly hit, a bus conveying footballers and officials.
“It’s strange, but it’s also an indication that things happen in life and no one can be guaranteed complete safety.
“I just want to wish our brave driver a speedy recovery. I will forever be grateful to him and our security man because that bus could have plunged down the bridge.
“The outcome could have been terrible and tragic but we are all here today because of them and of course God was on our side.
For Emenike, the shooting was particularly shocking as it brought back bad memories.
“I’ve been involved in a terrible accident in Nigeria before, where my mother suffered severe bruises, and for a moment I had a terrible flashback when that bus was swerving all over the road.
“I hope this incident will be investigated thoroughly and the perpetrators are made to face the justice system.
Emmanuel Emenike has only scored four goals in 23 league appearances this season but insists this latest incident will not force him to quit the Istanbul-based club.
“I have a contract here and I love the club,” he added.
“It’s only an isolated incident and not enough to make me look for an easy way out.
“I have put the past behind me and I am only focussing on what lies ahead. I am stronger now than before and right now I just want to wish our bus driver a speedy recovery.”
Fenerbahce have since called for the Turkish Super Lig to be suspended following the attack.
Emenike, who has endured a turbulent period in Turkish football since he re-joined Fenerbahce in 2013 has been plagued with series of hard times in Turkey. Recently, he demanded to be substituted after he was booed by his own fans during their 1-0 home win over rivals Besiktas.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a Fenerbahce supporter and reportedly called the local governor to inquire about the investigation into the incident. Fenerbahce is the title holders and had won the competition 19 times, with former Premier League players Dirk Kuyt, Raul Meireles and Emre in their side. The Istanbul-based team went top of the table after its victory on Saturday, Apriln 05, 2015. Rocketing the team one point ahead of bitter rivals Galatasaray.
