Kenyan Players Recount Near-Death Experience in Lebanon as They Reveal Engin Firat’s Hand in their Escape

Former Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat, who passed away on Monday, played a major part in helping three Kenyan players flee from Lebanon.

Kenyan players Masud Juma, Austin Odhiambo and Anthony Akumu returned home from Lebanon where they play for Nejmeh SC following the escalating security situation in the country due to the ongoing conflict involving Israel, United States and Iran.

Lebanon is among countries hit by retaliatory strikes with the country's capital Beirut targeted after fighting restarted between Israel and Hezbollah.

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The fighting, which started on Saturday February 28, saw all sporting action in Lebanon postponed indefinitely and at the time, the Kenyan players were part of Nejmeh’s team, which was coached by Firat, that had travelled for an away match on the same day.

“The day it happened was bad, we had gone for a game on the same side the war started in the Southern part of Beirut that Saturday,” Akumu told Tata Sports.

“When we got back to our rooms, we were called back and told we have to go back to Beirut because it is not safe. We were told Iran has fired a missile into bases of the US in Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan so safety first,” he further stated.

The Kenyan players say they thought the situation would ease and action will resume but it got from bad to worse. At this point, panic set in and it was up to the intervention of Firat, who forced the club to make arrangements for the Kenyan players to flee.

“We were told the game could be played on Tuesday or Wednesday but that was the last time we saw each other as teammates as everyone was told to stay safe,” added Akumu.

“We were only training indoors…we panicked because we have never experienced this in Kenya. It was bad because you could hear the explosions and when you remember you are miles away from home, you panic. When the plane took off [heading to Kenya], we were praying that the missiles would not hit it so when we landed in Cairo, I was relieved.”

Juma, who has paid glowing tribute to Firat, also recounted the horrifying experience, admitting it was not something he had seen even when he played in Iran last season.

“We had panicked because for the first time, we witnessed bombs. I always watch this in movies but I got this experience. In the middle of the night, there is an alarm, that they are going to bomb any time so it was horrible and it wasn’t good,” Juma said while speaking to Tata Sports.

“My family was scared and every time they told me to find a way to come home. The club did everything to get us tickets because they feared for our safety. Firat made sure we got out, it was him who pushed so that we go out,” he further revealed Firat’s role in their escape.

Firat had also escaped the situation in Lebanon when he suffered a heart attack at an airport in Istanbul when he was just about to head to his hometown Antalya. The ex-Harambee Stars coach had linked up with the Kenyan trio at Nejmeh last month.