Ten days after the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, images of devastation continue to emerge, but there are also others that reveal helping others. Among the most emblematic Turkish clubs is Fenerbahçe, which has turned its football stadium into the headquarters for humanitarian actions in which Alexandre Ferreira, captain of the Portuguese National Volleyball Team and outside hitter for Fenerbahçe HDI Sigorta, has been involved.
“Here in Istanbul, it was calm. I’ve felt an earthquake before, but that was a few months ago. I woke up startled, but it wasn’t as severe. This time, we had gone to play in Ankara and were traveling when we heard the news that night. There was a huge snowstorm and wind,” the highest-rated outside hitter in the Turkish league told A BOLA, after returning to training.
“Today [yesterday], we started a three-day blood donation drive. It’s open to everyone, with the meeting point being the Fenerbahçe football stadium. Since the earthquake, we’ve been meeting there. The club provided buses for all sports and trucks to transport essential goods to the victims. We all got together, each person donated an amount, and we bought food and other goods. The Turkish players have been promoting other types of aid, more personalized, as they have acquaintances, friends, and family who had businesses, homes, and lost everything,” reported the Portuguese volleyball player, playing in Turkey for the second time, after having played for Ziraat Bankasi between 2014 and 2016.
“Everyone knows someone, a friend, family member, or friends of friends who died in the earthquake. In my team, a boy lost family members, uncles and cousins.” Another was lucky that his mother had arrived in Istanbul two days earlier, because the house collapsed,” recalled the 31-year-old from Zone 4, explaining that “clothes for women and children are the most requested items,” although surplus items also arrived at the collection point. “Some people sent high-heeled shoes and bikinis and things like that. Anyway…”
With no date set for his return to competition – “They told us March 2nd or 3rd, but nothing is certain” – Alex recalls playing at the home of Hatay B. Sehir, a club in the affected Karamamaras region, before Christmas. “Many teams from there are no longer returning; they lost their pavilion, they lost everything.”
