Two Turkish Football Players Return From China

ISTANBUL - Semavi Uzun and Idris Gumusdere, two Turkish soccer players from the Chinese ''Yai Tai'' team, returned to Turkey due to the Severe Acute Respiratory System (SARS) illness.
Semavi and Idris and their families arrived in Istanbul early on Monday with a Turkish Airlines (THY) plane.
Speaking to reporters, Semavi Uzun said that they had faced several difficulties but they were happy to return to Turkey in good health.
''We were not leaving our hotel when we were not obliged to do so. We were very pleased when our coach told us that we could go to Turkey for a vacation,'' he said.
''We don't want to return to China under these conditions. We were scared of being infected by that virus. We want to cancel our contract through the Football Federation. We don't have any problem there, but our lives, especially our families' lives are very important,'' he said.
(MS-AÖ) 05.05.2003