Turkey Amputee National Team Continues World Cup Preparations in Kayseri

Ahead of the World Cup to be held in San Juan de los Lagos, Mexico, the players of the Turkey Amputee National Team, continuing their preparations in Kayseri, shared how they held onto life through sports.

Ahead of the World Cup to be held in San Juan de los Lagos, Mexico, between November 13-22, the Turkey Amputee National Team continues its training under the management of head coach İsmail Temiz at the 1,850-altitude Erciyes High Altitude Camp Center within the body of Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality. During the camp process, prominent names of the national team shared the difficulties they experienced and their bond with football.

Halil İbrahim Esen, who lost his left foot below the knee due to an electric shock when he was 7 years old, stated that he experienced difficulties living with a prosthetic leg and was introduced to amputee football through the guidance of his prosthetist. Expressing that he will experience the excitement of a World Cup for the first time, Esen stated that they have been in camp for about 4-5 months and that the mental preparation process was more challenging than the physical preparation.

Hamza Yusuf Ersen, who underwent surgery at age 7 due to a muscle deficiency in his leg and started football in the Turkish Armed Forces Amputee Football Team, noted that they experienced a lack of self-confidence before sports, that this situation changed after acquiring the identity of a national athlete, and that they aim for the championship. Tuncay Efe Hankulu, whose left leg was amputated as a result of falling from the second floor when he was 4 years old, stated that amputee football increased his self-confidence and emphasized that they want to protect their titles of the last world and European champions.