Turkey-based Cameroonian Amputee footballer regrets government’s lack of concern for colleague killed in earthquake

By Tata Mbunwe

Ndifor Joel, Secretary General of Cameroon Amputee Football, has expressed disappointment at the government’s lack of concern towards his colleague and friend, Elvis Nkam, who was killed in the earthquake in Turkey.

Joel, who also plays for Sisli Yeditepe Amputee Football Club in Turkey, told MMI Elvis Nkam’s family has not received any comforts from the Cameroon Government since he was died on February 6.

“How can Amputees all by themselves struggle to defend the national integrity, when it comes to the inclusion of persons with disabilities in sports and yet our country can’t even recognize our efforts? We travel far and near and even just 10,000frs the government can’t give us to even take care of our wounds or wash our clothes,” he wondered.

“Today, my colleague and best friend is dead because of the earthquake here in turkey without him ever receiving something that can make his family to be proud of his struggles,” Ndifor Joel regretted.

On February 13, Cameroon’s Embassy in Turkey announced that a brief funeral was to be held in Turkey to honour the late Teneng Elvis Nkam, before his body would be flown to Cameroon on January 14.

Upon reaching Nsimalen Airport in the night of February 14, the body was taken to Bamenda Regional Hospital mortuary yesterday, where it is pending burial on February 17.

Before his death, Elvis Nkam was a player of Malatya Amputee Football Club in Turkey.

He was unfortunately killed alongside three other teammates in a hotel, when a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Turkey and Syria on February 6.

Mimi Mefo Info