On Sunday, the Kurdish team Amedspor defeated Istanbul’s Başakşehir 5-0, climbing to third place in the Turkish Süper Lig.

Amedspor scored through Emin Bayram’s own goal in first-half stoppage time (45+1), followed by a second-half hat-trick from Gift Orban (52’, 56’ and 75’). Mbaye Diagne completed the scoring in the 84th minute.

Ali Fikri Işık, the author of the book Amedspor: Chaos and Resistance, told Kurdistan Chronicle that these victories are not minor. “The wins against Trabzonspor and Başakşehir are not ordinary matches or victories. Both Trabzonspor and Başakşehir are two of the five clubs that have previously won the Turkish Super League championship. What this means is that Amedspor has defeated two Turkish champions,” he said. 

“These victories also meet the Kurds’ need for major stories that convey the possibility of major achievements."

“The fact that Amedspor represents the Kurds, both objectively and subjectively — and this is the only way Turks perceive it, with no doubt among them that Amedspor carries this meaning for Kurds.”

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In May, Amedspor — the football club from Diyarbakır (known as Amed in Kurdish) was promoted to the highest Turkish football league, also known as the Super League, leading to mass celebrations among Kurds. Since then, the team has continued to log significant wins.

“Under head coach Besnik Hasi, Amedspor has shown that these successful victories were not accidental,” Işık added. “The team now has a playing system and is no longer struggling to implement it.”

On September 20, Amedspor will face Beşiktaş J.K. at Diyarbakır Stadium.

He added that Amedspor is now becoming equal to Turkey’s top club. “Next week Beşiktaş will come to Amed, and together we will have the opportunity to test how much our reach has expanded.”