Black Eagles returning home ......
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday inaugurated the brand new Istanbul waterfront stadium of the Besiktas football club, whose hardcore fans have been virulently hostile to his rule.
The formal opening did not take place inside the stadium -- which was almost entirely empty -- but beneath one of the stands in front of selected VIPs with some complaining normal supporters had been robbed of the chance to participate in the long-awaited event.
Besiktas in 2013 played for the last time at their old stadium in the same historic location on the shores of the Bosphorus just above the Ottoman-era Dolmabahce Palace.
That stadium -- which was named after the second president of modern Turkey Ismet Inonu -- was knocked down and the over 40,000 capacity Vodafone Arena built in its place.
Besiktas, currently locked in a thrilling fight for the league title with arch Istanbul rivals Fenerbahce, have been homeless since then and the opening of the new stadium has been greeted with relief by fans.
"#EveDonuyoruz," tweeted fans. "We are going home."
"I wish our eagles all the best for their new home," said Erdogan, wearing a scarf in the black-and-white colours of Besiktas, known by fans as the "Black Eagles".
"I believe that this stadium we are opening will be embraced by all the fans... Besiktas, Turkey's oldest, most established sports club has long deserved such a stadium," he said before cutting the ribbon.
Erdogan, in his youth a serious amateur player, then engaged in a light-hearted kickabout on the pitch with Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and his predecessor Abdullah Gul with whom he reportedly has poisoned relations.
Besiktas CEO Fikret Orman was also on the pitch with Erdogan, Gul and Davutoglu ..
Erdogan gave the first pass to Fikret Orman.
This is huge accomplishment by Fikret Orman and Besiktas board of directors ...
Vodafone had a huge impact in this project ...
I would like to congrat all the parties and Besiktas doing thsi stadium in three years...
BESIKTAS TAKES ON THE PITCH AT VODAFONE FOR THE FIRST TIME...
For the first time , Besiktas will take on the pitch for the first time against Bursaspor today..
It's huge match for Besiktas team....
After losing against Kasimpasa last weekend , Fenerbahce and Konya gave Besiktas another huge chance to open the gap with a win !
Konya beating Fenerbahce in Konya yesterday, served another golden plate to Besiktas ..
It's up to Besiktas team players and Senol Gunes to turn it to cash now ...
This is clutch game and Senol Gunes and platers has to show thier fans they are clutch team..
Another six point match !
It's a must win match ....
Besiktas is on tp of the #STSL Turkish Super Lig with 63 points and Fenerbahce on second place with 60 points !
Fenerbahce will face Galatasaray in the postponed match this coming Wednesday ...
Galatasaray vs Fenerbahce match should be decider if Besiktas win today !