Czech international striker Josef Sural has died after a bus carrying a number of Turkish club Aytemiz Alanyaspor’s players crashed. The 28-year-old died at hospital while six of his teammates continue to receive treatment.
Josef Sural Dies in Bus Crash
The private minibus, which was carrying seven of the Turkish Super Lig’s club’s players, crashed as the players travelled back from a game at Kayserispor on Sunday.
Alanyaspor’s chairman Hasan Cavusoglu claimed the driver of the minibus had fallen asleep at the wheel. A second on-board driver was also reportedly asleep when the accident occurred close to the club’s home city of Alanya.
The club posted a brief statement on Twitter that translated to: “We have learned with deep sorrow that Josef Sural lost his life as a result of an accident carrying seven football players from Alanyaspor.”
Cavusoglu also said the six other players are not in a critical condition following the crash.
Former Tottenham Hotspur and Queens Park Rangers defender Steven Caulker and ex-Newcastle United striker Papiss Cisse both play for Alanyaspor.
Caulker scored in the 1-1 draw at Kayserispor and it’s unknown whether the duo were among those on the minibus; the rest of the club’s players and staff travelled on a team bus or on their own.
Sural made 20 appearances for the Czech Republic and last featured in their Nations League defeat to Ukraine in October.
“I want to express my sincere and deep condolences to the family and my friends. Pepa was a humble man who will all be missed by us. We will never forget,” said football association chairman Martin Malik.
“I knew Pepa from his time in Liberec. He was a modest and honest boy, with only the nicest memories left. The message hit me deeply. It is a loss not only for Czech football but especially for all those close to – for those who I want to express my sincere condolences to the family, ” said the national coach Jaroslav Šilhavý.
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