Togolese Player Raimi Djima Survives Harrowing Plane Incident in Sudan
Raimi Djima, the Togolese footballer, and his teammates from Khartoum National Sport narrowly escaped disaster during a tense flight to their match in Sudan’s national championship.
The team was en route to play Hilal Faschere in the third round of the competition when their plane, operated by a Sudanese airline, encountered serious difficulties mid-air. What should have been a two-hour journey stretched into a nerve-wracking four hours due to what Djima described as “poor piloting.”
Speaking about the ordeal, Djima said, “We had a risky journey. The plane was poorly piloted by the captain. Instead of two hours, we spent four hours in the air.” His voice still trembling, he revealed how the incident left the players shaken and physically affected.
The harrowing experience took its toll on the team’s performance. Khartoum National Sport lost 1-0 to Hilal Faschere, a result Djima attributed partly to the traumatic flight. “We were distracted before the match. Some players were even unable to play because they fell ill after the incident,” he added.
Despite the recent scare, the team is set to travel again next Sunday for their fourth-round fixture against Shandy. The players will be hoping for a safer journey and better results on the pitch.
The unsettling flight incident occurred just one day after the tragic crash of flight AH5017, adding to concerns about aviation safety in the region.
This close call underscores the challenges faced by football teams in certain parts of the world, where travel can be as daunting as the matches themselves. For Raimi Djima and his teammates, the focus now shifts to recovery and preparing for their upcoming fixtures.
