A Ghanaian footballer named Juan Muller has been left stranded at the Mumbai Airport for the past 54 days due to COVID-19 lockdown in that country.
According to several monitored reports in the Indian media, 23-year-old Muller – who plays for Olympic Remembering Private Club (ORPC) situated in Kerala – was heading back to his homeland due to the COVID-19 outbreak but by the time he reached the Mumbai airport on March 21 after a train trip from his base to catch a Kenya Airways flight to Accra, the government had suspended all flights. A complete restriction on domestic and international commercial flight movement till May 17 was later imposed by the government.
This got Muller grounded at the departure area of Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) and the worst part, his smartphone was damaged so he couldn’t contact friends and family immediately.
He eventually approached an airport security officer who offered him his phone to contact his family. He was also helped by an airport officer who arranged blankets, food and a place to stay for Muller. All hotels in the airport area are also closed. Muller passes his time by buying food at the airport kiosks.
“I was going back home by Kenya Airways but unfortunately my flight got cancelled due to lockdown and I have been here for 54 days. Right now, all I can think of is that I just want to go home.
This got Muller grounded at the departure area of Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) and the worst part, his smartphone was damaged so he couldn’t contact friends and family immediately.
He eventually approached an airport security officer who offered him his phone to contact his family. He was also helped by an airport officer who arranged blankets, food and a place to stay for Muller. All hotels in the airport area are also closed. Muller passes his time by buying food at the airport kiosks.
“I was going back home by Kenya Airways but unfortunately my flight got cancelled due to lockdown and I have been here for 54 days. Right now, all I can think of is that I just want to go home.
“I buy food here and stay at the airport departure and take help from the people of Krystal (airport service provider company) employees. They are really very helpful,” Muller told ANI.
Airport staff to some rescue
An airport officer, who did not wish to be named, said he provided help to Muller with hotels closed and no accommodation available.
“He is in a bad condition due to shortage of money and clothes. I contacted the airlines and some other employees at the airport for his accommodation. Unfortunately, hotels are closed and other accommodation is also shut near the airport due to lockdown. I have given a blanket and also arranged food,” he said.
ORPC and the Ghana High Commission
When contacted, President of ORPC sports club Kabeer said: “Juan Muller is a football player in ORPC Sports Club and he left the sports club for his home Ghana.
Ghana’s High Commission in Delhi also confirmed knowledge of the footballer’s predicament, saying they were in touch with authorities for a solution.
The Ghana High Commission is in touch with Muller and is arranging a chartered flight from Mumbai and Delhi for all stranded Ghanian nationals.
“Around 500 Ghanaian nationals are living in India. They are mostly students. About 60 Ghanaian nationals have shown their willingness to go back to their home as of now,” the High Commission is quoted as saying.
Juan Muller first arrived in India via Egypt Air on November 17, 2017 with a visa set to expire in April. He later extended his visa online till Sunday, May 17.
Source: mynewsgh.com
