Stranded Ghanaian footballer heads home

MUMBAI: After being stranded for 75 days at the Mumbai international airport and then staying another 70 days in the city, 23-year-old Ghana footballer Randy Juan Muller will finally take a flight back home on August 21.
Muller's story captured the headlines in June when it was discovered he spent 75 days at the airport as his flight to Ghana was cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic and the national lockdown which came into effect.
When Aaditya Thackeray, who is also the president of the Mumbai District Football Association (MDFA) got to know about Muller's plight, he immediately put Yuva Sena functionary Rahul Kanal on the job. Kanal put up Muller at Lucky Hotel in Bandra, where he has been staying since June 8.
The Ghanaian embassy has finally managed to arrange a rescue flight for around 200 people stuck in the country which will leave Delhi on August 21.
Muller, who had joined ORPC Sports Club in Kerala last November to play in the lucrative Sevens Football tournament, told TOI on Tuesday that he spent most of his time in Mumbai indoors. "There wasn't much to do because of the pandemic. I just saw a few places near the hotel. The people are very friendly."
Muller has undergone trials at a couple of local football clubs and hopes to return once the football season in Mumbai begins or the pandemic situation improves. Though nobody was willing to confirm the actual cost of Muller's stay in Mumbai, sources said that it cost the Yuva Sena a whopping Rs 4.5 lakhs, inclusive of Rs 80,000 for his ticket.
On Tuesday, Kanal took Muller to Sahyadri, the government guest house, to meet Aaditya Thackeray and Muller surprised Aaditya with 'Jai Maharashtra', said Kanal.
(Inputs: Sujit Mahamulkar)