Wife of Ghanaian player Christian Atsu, Marie-Claire Rupio, has said she is certain that her husband is alive though he is still missing after the Turkey earthquake on Monday.
She said this in an interview with British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on Friday, as she was hopeful that his partner would be found alive.
Atsu, who plays for Hatayspor in Turkey, was reported to have gone missing since Monday, and was widely reported to have been found and sent to hospital 24 hours after.
But on Wednesday, Atsu’s agent and club said reports that the player had been rescued was untrue.
Meanwhile, wife of the 31-year-old winger told the BBC she is confident that her husband will be rescued alive.
“I still pray, and believe that he is alive,” she said.
Rupio also called on the Hatayspor club, The Turkish and UK governments to send equipment to help expedite the rescue mission.
“I appeal for the Hatayspor club, the Turkish authorities, and the British government, to send out the equipment to get people out of the rubble – especially my partner and father of my children.
“They need the equipment to get them out – they can’t get that deep without the equipment. And time is running out.”
