Nigeria striker Emmanuel Emenike says he and his Fenerbahce teammates were left in a state of shock after their team bus was shot at by a gunman on Saturday night in Turkey. This shooting incident happened as the Turkish league leaders were travelling to Trabzon airport to fly back to Istanbul, following their 5-1 victory over Rizespor.
The driver was reportedly taken to hospital but no players sustained injuries 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, 27, 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.”
“We quickly realised 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.”
“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.”
According to Emenike, the incident brought back bad memories of a previous accident in Nigeria.
“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.”
