S'pore team makes it out of Turkey
A children's football team from former Singapore captain Fandi Ahmad's F-17 Academy yesterday got a flight out of Antalya, Turkey, where they had been stranded because of the attempted coup in the country.
The group of 21, who were on their way to the Gothia Cup football event in Sweden, arrived in Istanbul from Antalya yesterday afternoon and were booked on a connecting flight to Copenhagen, Denmark, The Straits Times reported.
They would fly through the Danish capital or get a direct flight to Gothenberg, Sweden, where the World Youth Cup tournament begins today.
There are two coaches, six parents and 13 children aged eight to 14 years old in the group, which had left Singapore at 10pm on Friday.
F-17 director Mizra Ismail told The Straits Times that the academy was working with Turkish Airlines and Singapore Airlines to arrange the final leg of the team's journey to Gothenberg, where they are scheduled to play their first game at 1pm today.
"The boys are all in high spirits and feeling fresh after a good night's sleep at a hotel," said Mr Mizra.
"Our main priority is their safety and getting them to Gothenberg on time."
Before the group's flight was diverted to Antalya, they were due to land in Istanbul and catch a connection to Copenhagen, from where they were to take a train to Gothenburg.
The youth football tournament runs till July 25.
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