Anyone familiar with football knows that it is far more than just a sport. As author Simon Kuper unpacks in his award-winning book Soccer Against the Enemy, football affects politics, economics, and culture in such profound ways that the results on the pitch mirror and even shape people’s emotions and identities. Such developments are central to the story of Amed Sportif Faaliyetler Kulubu, commonly known as Amedspor, a Turkish Football Federation (TTF) team based in Diyarbakir.
Last year, Amedspor became the champion of the 2023-2024 TTF Second League Red Group, vaulting it to the TTF First League for the upcoming season. The team’s successes on the field resonated beyond the stadiums, creating a synergy between the team and its fans across borders, as digital and social media broadcast their story around the Kurdish world.
Kurdistan Chronicle had the opportunity to chat with Amedspor President Aziz Elaldi about the team’s success story, its preparation process for the upcoming season in the TFF First League, and other plans.
Kurdistan Chronicle (KC): First, we congratulate Amedspor on becoming champion of the 2023-2024 TFF Second League Red Group under your leadership and wish you continued success. Why do you think Amedspor’s success created such great joy for Kurds inside and outside of Turkiye?
Aziz Elaldi (AE): Even though Amedspor is the team of Amed – a Kurdish city known in Turkish as Diyarbakir – it is a club that has gained the appreciation, admiration, love, and respect of all Kurds simply because of its struggle for existence within its own means. The many injustices we have been subjected to, such as the sad treatment we have received for years at away matches and the away bans that are applied without justification, have only increased the sense of belonging among our many conscientious football fans, both Kurdish and non-Kurdish.
KC: What kind of reactions did Amedspor receive from the international, Turkish, and Kurdish public after its championship? Did the club receive any sponsorship offers afterwards?
AE: Many clubs competing in our national leagues – as well as many international clubs – have congratulated us. Based on these congratulations and the invitations that we received, I have traveled nationally and internationally. The shows of love, respect, and enthusiasm we see in every city in Europe and Turkiye have been incredibly uplifting.
Regarding your other question, yes, we have received sponsorship and advertising offers from many local and international companies. Our executives are working in line with the club’s best interests. The results of the sponsorship efforts will soon be shared with the public and our dear fans.
KC: When you took over as club president in 2023, during a challenging period for the club, you boldly declared, “This is the year,” referring to your championship aspirations. Remarkably, you achieved it. What contributed to this success, and what are your future goals?
AE: There is a philosophy that has greatly contributed to my business life: “Believing is half the battle.” I trust in myself first. Once I believe in myself, it becomes easier to convince those around me. Yes, I believed that we would become champions from day one and I never even considered any scenario other than the championship. Since the first day we took office, together with all my fellow board members, we did not hesitate to boldly express our aspiration to win the championship, and the entire management team has worked very hard to achieve it. In the end, thank God, we did not embarrass the Amedspor community and were able to fulfill our promise.
KC: Can you briefly tell the story of Amedspor for those who are not familiar with the club?
AE: Amedspor is a club with a rich yet challenging history. Founded in 1972 as Melikahmet Turanspor, the team has undergone five name changes, settling on Amed Sportif Faaliyetler Kulubu in 2014 with the approval of the TFF and other authorities. For nearly a decade, Amedspor has fought to maintain its existence, relying solely on its own resources and the unwavering support of its dedicated fans since leaving the old Silbe Stadium.
KC: As is well known, the name Amed was officially used during the Ottoman Empire. Notably, Evliya Celebi, one of the most prominent explorer-writers of the 17th century, documented the city of Amed in his renowned travelogs. Given this rich history, what specific difficulties has Amedspor encountered because of its Kurdish name?
AE: Yes, the name Amed is the oldest known name of this city. Even before we used the name Amed, which is from our native Kurdish language, Diyarbakir clubs were subjected to treatment at away matches that no one wants to see in sports competitions. However, after we took the name Amed, the ideological, sociological, physical, psychological attacks grew in intensity. We find these immoral and wrong. The reason for such attacks is the lack of education in our country.
Recently, for many reasons that are related to the increasing economic difficulties, hooliganism and racist attacks have been on the rise. However, we recognize that the acts of ignorant or young fans are not representative of the wider population of a city and that many people, regardless of their race, hold Amedspor in high regard. We have felt this love firsthand and have been warmly welcomed on numerous occasions. It is our hope that the courteous and exemplary hospitality that we have experienced will become more prevalent in the sports community moving forward. We urge the incoming TFF management to address the troubling incidents we have faced over the years and to work toward solutions.
KC: Amedspor has faced significant challenges in Turkiye, receiving the most penalties in away games and playing matches without spectators. Additionally, the club has been subjected to racist treatment in many away matches. What are your thoughts on this issue?
AE: I don’t know if there is another example of this in Turkiye or even in the world, but yes, for about 10 years, our fans have not been allowed into stadiums at away games, regardless of the city or host club. Our attempts to change this have been insufficient. Unfortunately, this issue does not find much coverage in the local press either. This shame belongs to all of us, and this problem must be resolved urgently by the relevant authorities and provincial security boards before the upcoming season.
KC: Amedspor is one of Turkiye’s most popular football teams, often described as more than just a sports club. Many fans liken it to Barcelona, and you’ve expressed a vision to elevate Amedspor to similar heights. What specific goals do you have in mind to achieve this ambition?
AE: Although we are a club whose matches were not broadcast until this season and who competed in lower leagues, media and stadium figures show that we have one of the largest fan bases in Turkiye. This is beyond rhetoric; it is an undeniable, rational fact. We cannot say that it is wrong to describe a club that has so many fans and supporters even in the lower leagues as “the people’s team.” As we have seen and experienced, we can say this very clearly: “Amedspor exists today with the support of its people and fans.” Amedspor is really the people’s team.
Regarding your question about Barcelona, the comparison arises because the Catalan people have faced treatment in Spain that mirrors the marginalization experienced by the Kurds over the years. Barcelona is a club that enjoys global support and respect, despite the grievances endured by its people. We recently met with senior management at Barcelona and are committed to fostering warm relations moving forward.
KC: You recently went on a European tour where you had numerous meetings. You encountered many strong Kurdish football players who are well known in Europe. Some of them expressed their support for Amedspor. Are you considering transferring any of these players for next season? Furthermore, are you focusing on developing Amedspor’s youth setup to create a primary resource that trains its own athletes?
(AE): First, let me underline that, in Amedspor’s development up to today, football players and managers from different races, religions, and sects belonging to the peoples of the Republic of Turkiye have contributed and served. We have never discriminated against any race among our athletes, and we will not allow it. Of course, our Kurdish athletes are loved more and feel a sense of belonging to the team and our fans. This sense of belonging felt toward regional athletes is also quite normal.
We receive a lot of support from Kurdish athletes, both from abroad and from within Turkiye, some of which is reflected in the media but also in other ways. Their presence, prayers, and good wishes are the greatest sources of morale and motivation for us. Our own youth setup will now be much more active and effective. Our managers are working intensively to institute a new structure and build new facilities. We will have youth setup selections again soon. Our people should follow them on official accounts and entrust their children to us with peace of mind. For a long-term existence, we need the next generation of players from our youth setup, as well as our own financial resources. We are aware of this and are working toward this purpose.
KC: Which clubs did you visit during your European tour, and what types of meetings did you have? Amedspor has previously sought to establish sister team relationships with prominent clubs like Borussia Dortmund and Werder Bremen. Are there plans for similar collaborations in the coming years?
AE: I recently completed my long European trip, which began on June 15. During this journey, I had the privilege of meeting influential business leaders in cities such as Paris, Barcelona, Bremen, Hannover, Hamburg, and Stuttgart to seek their support. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors and dear Amedspor fans for their invaluable contributions.
Throughout my travels, I established warm connections with FC Girondins de Bordeaux, SV Werder Bremen, and FC St Pauli. We have also scheduled meetings with FC Barcelona, Olympique Marseille, RC Lens, and Lille OSC; however, their managers are currently occupied with the 2024 European Championships. I am planning another trip to Europe soon. Amedspor will always maintain friendly and brotherly relations with Turkish clubs, as well as clubs and individuals worldwide
KC: Amedspor has entered an exciting partnership with Ersun Yanal, a coach renowned for his principled approach within the Turkish football community. Yanal has expressed his ambition to transform Amedspor into a team that meets European standards. Can you elaborate on how you plan to collaborate with Yanal – from new player acquisitions to developing a cohesive working system – to achieve this goal?
AE: Ersun Yanal is one of the few local national team coaches who has also won the Super League championship and received national and international appreciation and respect. We are in a coordinated and harmonious collaboration with him. We are making plans not only for this year’s championship, but also for institutional and permanent success that will be sustained over the long term. Instant successes are temporary; permanent successes take time. We are working intensively with him, patiently, selflessly and devotedly. Our fans, please trust us and be patient.
KC: Have there been any invitations from the Kurdistan Region for Amedspor to play friendly matches? If not, what would your approach be if such invitations occur? Do you have a message you would like to convey to the sports clubs, business circles, and people of the Kurdistan Region?
(AE): We are thrilled to receive congratulations and invitations from the Kurdistan Region, as well as from various countries. This recognition brings us immense joy. We look forward to visiting Amedspor fans, engaging with business leaders, and connecting with Kurdish sports clubs and athletes in the Kurdistan Region as soon as possible to establish warm and close ties.
