Turkish National Team Visit Soma

The Turkish National football team has paid their respects to the 301 victims of the disaster mine fire in Soma .

The national team visited  the town on Monday in a show of solidarity, and prayed at the miners' graves in Soma, Turkey . 

After they payed their respect , they flew back to Istanbul to train .

Turkish National team play two friedly matches in Europe before they headed to United States .

Turkish National team will arrive in DC Washington on May 26 , 2014 and will train in DC United's training facilities .

They will face Honduras on May 29th in Washington , DC. 

After the match , They will travel to New Jersey on same night . 

In New Jersey, Turkish National team will train in New York Red Bulls training facilities on Friday and Saturday .

On June1st , Sunday , Turkish National team will face #USMNT in  Red Bulls Arena . This match should be very good match .

USA faced Turkey In a send- off match back in 2010 in Phidelphia and USA won that match 2-1 ! 

Turkish Super Lig Wrap : Tributes to #Soma Disaster !

It has been very sad  last sixty days for Turks and Turks around the World !

Like my self, a lot of people were sadden  from the bad news from #Soma ,Turkey 

IT was Disaster !

Over 300 Coal Mine  workers died .......

So,  with this Tragedy cloud over, Turkish Super Lig's last weekend  started ... 

In every match, in Turkey,  there were tribute to #Soma coal mine victims ....

  

Galatasaray after beating Erciyes 2-1, earned a direct ticket to Champions League ..

On the other hand , Besiktas draw with Gencler and they will  play in  the Champions League 

Qualifying round !

Trabzonspor finished in fourth place after  Sivas loss at Karabuk  !

Sivas finished  fifth in the standings with Roberto Carlos ...

Trabzon will start Europa League Playoffs next  season.

Sivas has to start in the qualifying round  !

Eskisehir is the other team who will represent Turkey in the Europa League next season as

Turkish Cup finalist ,since Galatasaray plays in the Champions League ...

After, Kayseri ,Antalya  third team who said good bye to league was Elazig !

Newcomers  for  next season.....

Mersin,  Istanbul BB ,  Balikesir  .....

Good luck to all three in the next season.

Leading goal scorer  in the Turkish Super Lig  was  Sivasspor's Aatif Chahechouhe

He scored 17 goals !

Burak YIlmaz was second with 16 goals .....

One good note......

 First Turkish born player  who won a  league title in Spain,  is Arda Turan !

I am very glad for Arda  Turan...

Congrats to Arda Turan ...

Turkish Super Lig Wrap : Fenerbahce Claimed their Title Trophy

It was a weekend that Fenerbahce the Champions of  the 2013-2014 season claimed their title trophy in front of their fans in Kadikoy .

Fenerbahce trashed Karabuk in their last home match in Sukru Saracoglu stadium in Kadikoy  4-0 !

Karabuk's hopes for Europa League  were dashed by Fenerbahce on Friday night ...

The Champions of Turkey , Fenerbahce celebrated the title  in the stadium with trophy ceremony in the stadium and after in the streets of Kadikoy !

While Fenerbahce President Aziz Yildirim  was making his speech, some Fenerbahce fans started  chant "Alex De Souza " 

That got,  Aziz Yildirim very mad on the stage.....

He said ,   "We are trying to celebrate the championship and look what you guys are doing !"

"I am the one who brought  Alex to Fenerbahce .... I am  the one who decided to send Alex  because he would not be useful for Fenerbahce " 

Speaking to  the "Young Fenerbahce Fans " ( Genc Fenerbahceliler ) he said, I will not allow you to this stadium next season ! "

Aziz Yildirim was bitter and very upset at the end of his speech....

He thanked all the players  and  Ersun Yanal and his assistants for winning the 19th title .

Turkish FA (TFF ) President Yildirim Demiroren represented the title trophy to Aziz Yildirim and Fenerbahce team.

*******************************

DOWN TO WIRE.......

YES ,as I predicted  before , battle for second place , fourth place and relegation scare

Will go down to the wire ! 

This coming saturday , we will find out who will finish second and who will be the last team to relegate

Elazig needs miracles to stay in the Turkish Super League after losing against Besiktas this past weekend !

On the other hand,  Gaziantepspor needs to at least get a draw in Bursa away match.....

Elazig travels to Rize  to play Rizespor !

Winning the match is not enough    for Elazig.....

Who will finish second ?

Galatasaray or Besiktas ?

Well. after winning the Turkish Cup, Galatasaray   trashed Trabzonspor in Trabzon with four goals !

That jeopardized  Trabzon's fourth place hopes but gave Galatasaray advantage against Besiktas

On the other Besiktas won their must win match in Elazig...

There is still one point gap between them!

Saturday's matches will decide , who will finish in second place ...

Both teams are home......

Galatasaray host Erciyes  and Besiktas will face Genclerbirligi  !

It should be very good SATURDAY ......

On  Sunday, the battle  will be for fourth and fifth place...

Sivas will be in Karabuk , Trabzon in Antalya and  Kasimpasa in Akhisar(Manisa ) 

Sivas is ahead of them with 53 points while Trabzon with 50, Kasimpasa 48 and Karabuk 47 !

So,  on Saturday and Sunday, we will witness the  thrill of victory and Agony of  defeat !

 

Turkish Cup Belongs to Galatasaray !

Galatasaray won the Turkish Ziraat Cup thanks to Wesley Sneijder .....

Wesley Sneijder scored the only goal in the second half of the  match and

Galatasaray beat Eskisehirspor  1-0 !

This was Galatasaray's 15th Turkish Cup win  in twenty  tries ......

Last time time they won the Turkish Cup,  it was nine years ago .

Wesley Sneijder was  the most valuable player of the Turkish Cup Final match ....

 Under Roberto Mancini,  who took the team at 9th place in the league from Fatih Terim,

Won their first Cup of the season  after falling behind the title race  !

But, as Mancini says , he took the club at  9th place and now trying to finish second  so they

could go directly to Champions League .

Besiktas and Galatasaray are in  neck and neck race for the second place .

Photos credits : Getty Images



Drogba did not play but he shared the teammates and his team's accomplishment on twitter and instagram

Turkish Cup Final match played in Konya,Turkey ....

After the match, Turkish FA official presented the  Ziraat Turkish Cup to Galatasaray team.

So, under stress Galatasaray team and mostly Mancini with winning the Turkish Cup,

Shutup his naysayers in  Galatasaray community...

Somehow ,some Galatasaray fans and  some Galatasaray writers are not happy with Mancini !

Last week, Mancini said, I took this team ,when Galatasaray was in 9th place.....

With winning the Turkish Cup, Mancini eased the critics......

Turkish Cup Final : Galatasaray vs Eskisehir

 Galatasaray coach  Roberto Mancini and Eskisehirspor coach Ertugrul Saglam  

Ziraat Turkish Cup match Final will take place in Konya ,Turkey ....

Match will start at 20: 00 Local Turkey time (13:00 ET ) 

Galatasaray will miss Drogba while Muslera will be in goal.....

On the other hand, Eskisehirspor who won the Turkish Cup only one time in their history

 will be without  Ozgur Cek .

Galatasaray  won  the Turkish Cup 14 times and played in final match 19 times !

Eskisehirspor and Galatasaray will meet first time in the Turkish Cup match ....

If Galatasaray win the match it will  Mancini's first Cup in Turkey .....

On the other hand , Ertugrul Saglam, who coaches Eskisehirspor will be the coach who will  win the Cup for Eskisehir after 43 years !

Ertugrul Saglam former Turkish National team player and  Besiktas player  won the Turkish Super League title with Bursaspor back in 2010 season.

Good luck to both teams and both coaches.

 

Turkish Super Lig Wrap : The Battle Goes On !

Chase for Europe   is getting hotter in the Turkish Super League......

After Galatasaray and Besiktas win their match  on Saturday, second place still   up for grabs !

But, for now Galatasaray  one step ahead of Besiktas with one point lead.....

As we go into the last two weeks  in the Turkish Super League...

Going will get though !

For second place  , Galatasaray travels to Trabzon and Besiktas visits Elazig
In the last weekend, they are both home......

 Galatasaray will host Erciyes and Besiktas face Genclerbirligi !

One point, before this weekend Galatasaray will play in the Turkish Cup Final against

Eskisehirspor on Wednesday....

After that match they will Travel to Trabzon from Konya where the Turkish Cup Final will take place.

This will be huge burden on Galatasaray team.....

Their opponent  Trabzonspor are trying to finish the season in fourth place so they could play in the Europa League next season !

Along with Trabzon, Sivas, Kasimpasa and Karabuk still have chance to finish fourth place.....

On the other hand, Besiktas's  opponent Elazig  is trying to stay alive in the league !

It  is a do or die match for Elazig !

After Antalya and Kayseri relegated this past weekend , third team who will relegate is unknown for now


This will go down to the wire too....

Will it be Elazig ,Gaziantep , Erciyes, Rize or Konya ?

This past weekend , Erciyes, Konya, and Rize gain huge advantage......

Elazig with winning in Antalya  , send Antalya to lower division and kept their fight for staying alive!

In Rize , Godfrey Oboabona actually saved Rize in the very last seconds of the match by scoring the goal ...

Greek International player Gekas was also savior....

He scored  the equalizer goal against  Karabuk  in the last minutes of the match....

That was huge for Konya...

Gekas  saved Akhisar team before too !

Akhisar this weekend after they received Turkish Champions Fenerbahce with flowers beat them 3-1 !

Was this let down by Fenerbahce ....

After winning their 19th title last weekend ........

I don't thinks so !

They were not focused for this match....

Lastly,  few words to Galatasaray and Besiktas fans......

It was very funny to see while Galatasaray losing against Genclerbirligi, fans chanting "Mancini resign " in Arena !

And Besiktas fans using absurd chanting against team CEO !

While their team Besiktas was winning on the pitch.......

It is very difficult to understand Turkish Soccer fans,sometimes !

We welcome Balikesirspor to the Turkish Super League ...

Ghana goal keeper Richard Kingson  plays for Balikesirspor ....

After 38 years, Balikesirspor  moved up along with Istanbul B.B. to the Turkish Super League.

The third team will be known after the play-offs....

So, battle for second place, Europa League and staying alive , goes on !

It could well go down to the wire.....

Enjoy it .

AHMET B TURGUT 

Turkish Super Lig Preview : Battle for Europe and Staying Alive !

After Fenerbahce claim the Turkish Super League tittle last weekend , the heat is on week 32!

In the week 32 matches will be played on Saturday and Sunday.

There are six matches on Saturday  and three on Monday....

Battle for second  place and  Europe ....

It is  getting hotter  and it could well go down to the wire....

Galatasaray and Besiktas are in  neck and neck race for the second place.....

Galatasaray with 56  and Besiktas with 55 points !

Bothe play at home but, opponents could spell  danger for both of them.....

Galatasaray will host Genclerbirligi  and Besiktas will face Kasimpasa  on Saturday !

Kasimpasa is looking to finish fourth place , so they could go to Europa League ...

Genclerbirligi with a win against Galatasaray could get  that chance too !

Since , Fenerbahce can not represent Turkey because of UEFA's ban , second place finisher will go directly to Champions League !

That is why , finishing second place is very important this season...

It is like almost being  Champions !

Heated Relegation Zone..... 

Also on Saturday , there are four matches will  decide  who will bite the dust in the Turkish Super Lig !

All these matches will take place at  same time and will be during the day time( 3.30 PM, Turkey time )

Besiktas and Galatasaray matches will start at  19.00 PM ,Turkey time ....


Karabuk will host Konya , Eskisehir vs Kayseri , Antalya will face Elazig and  Erciyes at home against Gaziantep !


It is pretty much over for Kayserispor.....

For Antalya , it is do or die weekend !

They have to  beat Elazig at home....

Antalya with 28 points and Elazig 31 !

This match is huge for both team.....

Same with Erciyesspor ......

They  are facing do or die match against Gaziantep !

If they beat Gaziantep at home they will even the points with Gaziantep....

36 points !

Huge .....Huge matches on Saturday in the Turkish Super League.....

Former Gaziantep coach Hikmet Karaman  now coaches Erciyes !

Ever Since he took over the team , the team is been winning most of the matches ...

On Sunday, Rize will be at home against Sivas, Bursa will face Trabzon and Turkish Super Lig Champions Fenerbahce will travel to Manisa to play Akhisar .

Lastly,  as I  said before battle for second place  and fourth place could well go down to the wire !

We should find out after this weekend , who will be the the other two teams  say good bye ....

Enjoy it .....