Arzu Karabulut opens up on the horrors of the devastating earthquake

‘The coaches were trying to keep the wheel stable. Imagine three people trying to save lives’: Turkey star Arzu Karabulut opens up on the horrors of coming face-to-face with the devastating earthquake and how football has been the ‘healing power’ since

• Turkey was hit by a catastrophic 7.8 magnitude earthquake back in February 
• Domestic women’s champions ALG Spor came face-to-face with the devastation
• Turkey star Arzu Karabulut and director Necla Gungor spoke about its impact

In the early hours of February 6, ALG Spor, the Turkish women’s champions, were travelling back to the southeastern region of Gaziantep from an away game in Hakkari.

Spirits were high. They had won 3-0. Star player Arzu Karabulut had scored in the game and was watching a film with one of her team-mates.

They had reached the city of Diyarbakir, four hours from home, when a 7.8 magnitude Earthquake hit.

‘It was 4.17am, we were on a highway,’ Karabulut tells Sportsmail.

‘At first I didn’t understand that there was an earthquake because I thought we were just driving on a slippery road. Then I realised. It lasted for around 15-20 seconds.

ALG Spor star Arzu Karabulut spoke to Mail Sport about coming face-to-face with the devastating earthquake that struck Turkey back in February and the impact it has caused

A 7.8 magnitude Earthquake hit the country, which caused deaths of more than 50,000 people

ALG’s players were in constant contact with the Turkish Federation and head of women’s football, Necla Gungor (pictured) – who did all she could to keep her players safe 

‘At that moment the driver couldn’t keep the bus under control. The coaching staff were trying to keep the wheel stable and help the driver. Imagine three people trying to save our lives.’

The driver and coaching staff were able to steady the bus and in the following hours the team arrived home.

They were met with horrifying scenes. Gaziantep was at the epicentre of the disaster. It was not safe for players to attempt to reach their houses or enter any buildings. They were forced to stay on their bus for two days while they contemplated what to do.

They were in constant contact with the Turkish Federation and head of women’s football, Necla Gungor.

‘Everybody was outside because of the aftershocks, it was happening all the time,’ Karabulut says.

‘The first two days were very terrible. We couldn’t go to our houses, we couldn’t eat or sleep. We were also waiting for aid. Our national team coach Necla Gungor was in touch and helped us mentally, she said that we have to stay strong.

With no flights to Istanbul, it was decided the team (36 players in total) would drive from their location to the capital city on the same bus.

The route was dangerous. Many roads out of Gazientep had collapsed and aftershocks were still occuring.

With no flights to Istanbul, it was decided the team (36 players in total) would drive from their location to the capital city on the same bus but the route was extremely dangerous

After a 20-hour journey – which included the team going through the second earthquake between leaving Gaziantep and Nur Mountain – the bus finally arrived in Istanbul

‘Getting them out of the city while the earthquakes were still going on, them getting caught in an earthquake on the way, and constantly changing routes due to the closed roads were the most distressful hours I’ve ever experienced in my life,’ Gungor tells Mail Sport.

‘Throughout the journey we followed their location and kept in constant contact with the players, their families, and the club managers. It took them more than five hours to even get out of Gaziantep. In between Gaziantep and Nur Mountain, they went through the second earthquake.

‘It was one of the rare moments in my life to stay in touch with the players until they reached their homes and to make them feel that we were with them.

Some players were taken to their families in Ankara on the way while those who did not have family nearby were taken to the National team’s Riva facilities in Istanbul.

‘Our families were very concerned at that time. We were turning through different cities – Adana, Hatay, Kahramanmaras, because some of the highways had collapsed so we had to keep changing route,’ Karabulut says.

After a 20-hour journey, the bus finally arrived in Istanbul.

‘When we first received the girls, it was super obvious how truly afraid and tired each one of them were,’ Gungor says.

‘After the traumatic period following the earthquake, we were so relieved and emotional to hug each other and have our players in safety.’

A photo of ALG Spor’s players after they arrived at the national team’s facilities in Istanbul

Turkey returned to action with two friendlies against Azerbaijan – winning one and drawing one

Karabulut was born in Germany and after arriving in Istanbul, was booked on a flight there to join family members.

‘I mentally broke down when I arrived [in Germany] because I couldn’t forget the people who stayed at Gaziantep.

‘I can’t erase the moments in my memory, what I’ve seen. I hope this kind of an earthquake will never happen in my country again.’

Not every team in Turkey has been as lucky. Hatayspor, who were three games away from winning their first ever title, were forced to withdraw from the league. They are asking for help and support from both the government and the Turkish federation.

The Turkish league has now re-started and the federation’s Shoulder-to-Shoulder campaign has raised vital funds for victims and their families.

ALG Spor have been able to continue and are on the verge of another title. Karabulut scored in their first game back after the Earthquake while the national team played two friendlies against Azerbaijan – winning one and drawing the other.

Gungor, who is also a women’s rights activist, has previously served as the manager of the national team before taking over as technical director. The 41-year-old has been responsible for the steady growth of the game in her homeland and has been heavily involved with the re-building project since the Earthquake.

Gungor, 41, has been responsible for the steady growth of the women’s game in her homeland and has been heavily involved with the re-building project since the earthquake

The Women’s top flight has also now resumed and ALG Spor are on the verge of another title

There has been devastating losses to the women’s game, including youth players like Verda Demetgul, who was under 16. Football, Gungor says, has been the ‘healing power’ in Turkey.

‘In Sanliurfa, we have lost our valuable coach Mustafa Abak, who had brought players to the women’s national team for years and worked for women’s football in that region, used football as an instrument, and had a positive impact on the lives of many of our girls,’ Gungor says.

‘All of our teams, who have not been affected by the earthquake, have embraced our girls who don’t have the opportunity to play football in their own city, and they have been transferred so that they can continue their football lives.

‘All the urgent assistance after the earthquake continues. Even though it is very difficult, normalisation has begun.’

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