Tragedy in Indonesia/ The footballer who saw the horror with his own eyes confesses

2022-10-02 18:29:58, Sport CNA

Abel Issa Camará is a professional footballer from Bissau-Guinea, who plays as a striker for the club Arema in League 1. The player experienced firsthand what happened last night at the Kanjuruhan Stadium, in the province of Oriental Java, in a football match, where Arema were defeated 3-2 by Persebaya Surabaya.

"Two weeks ago we knew we were going to play this game, but neither their fans come to our stadium, nor ours go to their stadium. During the week there was already a lot of talk about this match in our stadium and about the rivalry. This challenge was the talk of the town, as it was a game that went beyond 3 points. It was a life or death match, - affirmed Abel Camará.

– Before the match started, there was already confusion in the entrance of the opposing team. When the match ended, the opposing players left the stadium for about 10 minutes in armored cars. Meanwhile we went to apologize to our fans because we lost the derby and at that very moment they started climbing the fence around the pitch. The police asked us to go to the dressing room, because they could lose control of the situation sooner or later".

Abel Camará vazhdoi duke thënë: “Ne u mbyllëm në dhomën e zhveshjes, teksa tifozët u përpoqën të futeshin atje. Na u desh të vendosnim një tavolinë nag brenda për ta mbyllur derën. Mjaft tifozë arritën të futeshin në dhomën tonë të zhveshjes dhe përfunduan të vdekur aty”.

Nuk kisha kaluar kurrë një gjë të tillë. Në ato momente vetëm mendoni që asgjë të mos ju ndodhi fizikisht. Kur gjithçka përfundoi, pashë më të keqen. Ne po largoheshim nga dhomat e zhveshjes dhe filluam të shihnim shumë gjak, këpucë, atlete, rroba kudo, policët që komentonin se dy kolegë të tyre kishin vdekur. Këtë nuk ia uroj askujt. Teksa ishim brenda dhomës së zhveshjes kishim frikë për jetën, sepse 40 ose 50 mijë njerëz jashtë donin kokën tonë.

A ishte ky momenti më i keq i jetës suaj?

I have never experienced a moment like this, ever. We were afraid for our lives and unable to do anything we cowered in the corner like rats.

Will this serious event leave a psychological mark on you?

It's not healthy or safe to be like that, in a country where at any moment the fans want to hit the players. So, when the moments of mourning are over, I will talk to the board of directors of the club and decide on the future.