Ghanaian Footballer Spends 73 Days Outside Mumbai Airport

Mumbai: Ghanaian footballer Randy Juan Muller, who had flown to Kerala to play the seven-a-side circuit, got stranded in Mumbai after international flights from India got cancelled due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown.

Recalling his ordeal during lockdown, Muller said that he had to put up outside the Mumbai airport for 73 days as he was left with just Rs 1000.

“I was woken up by a policeman. He asked me to leave the airport. But I couldn’t return to Kerala because the trains were cancelled, I couldn’t go to a hotel because I didn’t have money. I was like ‘well, I’m gonna die here’,” said Muller.

Mumbai Police, CISF and the airport authority helped the 24-year-old footballer while he was putting up at a park outside the terminal for two-and-a-half months.

“But there was always someone to give me food — roti, biscuits, a soft drink,” said Muller.

It was only after the intervention of Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray and Ghana Embassy officials that Muller was moved to a  hotel.

“They have promised to put me on the first flight home. Home is closer now,” he said.

Despite the hardships, Muller said that he would take a slice of Mumbai and Kerala back home in Ghana.

“I don’t have the money to buy a souvenir or gift, but I think this experience itself is the biggest souvenir. God willing, I will return to Kerala,” said the footballer.