Trabzonspor U19 Team, the runner-up in the UEFA Youth League, took a city tour first organized by the Metropolitan Municipality, then found morale at a dinner in Ganita. After the program, Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Metin Genç welcomed the young players in his office and promised them a vacation in Qatar, saying, “Your tears were our honor.”
Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Metin Genç met with Trabzonspor U19 team, who achieved a great success by reaching the final and becoming the runner-up in the UEFA Youth League, at a morale dinner organized in Ganita. The program was attended by Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, Trabzon Deputy Governor Fatih Kızıltoprak, AK Party Provincial Chairman Sezgin Mumcu, Mayor of Akçaabat Osman Nuri Ekim, Vice President of Trabzonspor Club Zeyyat Kafkas, Trabzonspor Board Members, team players, and coaching staff.
METİN GENÇ: YOU MADE US PROUD
Expressing his joy to be with the young footballers at this meaningful gathering, the Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Metin Genç said, “I am very pleased to be with you today. You have really made us proud. I experienced the atmosphere of both matches in person, and what we felt was indescribable. The tears of Arda and Bora after the match were actually symbols of our pride. You showed great faith and character on the field. I thank all of you, especially our coach and coaching staff, for making us experience this pride. Success is a team effort. The effort of everyone from our club president to the executives was immense. Together, we achieved this success. You brought back the spirit of Trabzonspor’s victories against Inter and Liverpool in historic matches. Just like in those times, you represented the resistance and character of Anatolia. Being the runner-up in Europe is a great success, do not be upset. Trabzon is such a city; when it believes, it succeeds, it does not give up. The city tour you took today may have been symbolic, but hopefully, you will soon take a real championship tour. After the Salzburg match, the kids in the dressing room told me, ‘Mr. President, we want a vacation in Qatar.’ Now it’s time to fulfill that promise. This vacation should not only be a reward for you but also remain as a well-deserved memory for representing this city” he said.
ABDULKADİR URALOĞLU: YOU REPRESENTED OUR CITY PERFECTLY
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu expressed his pride in the young footballers, saying, “I am very pleased to be with you here today. Although I could not attend the final match, I had the opportunity to watch the Inter match in person. We followed you with great pride. I also watched the final match on TV. You represented our city and our country in the best way possible with the struggle you put forth. We are all proud of you. I thank your coaches, our club, and most importantly, your precious families. Please convey my greetings to your families. The spirit, belief, and will you displayed there took me back to the past. I remembered how we, as neighbors, cheered for Trabzon during the victories against Liverpool and Inter. At that time, the matches were broadcasted from the municipal speakers, and everyone united as one. Seeing that spirit again in you has deeply touched me. Maybe you did not win the cup but you became the champions of our hearts. Our President also followed and congratulated you. This team spirit affects not only the field but a city and even a country. You fought with this consciousness. I thank you all and wish you continued success” he stated.
Zeyyat Kafkas, Vice President of Trabzonspor Club, thanked the coaching staff, players, and all stakeholders who supported during this process, saying, “The heroes on the field in this story are now known all over the world. However, there were also unseen heroes who contributed significantly on and off the field in this process. Therefore, I first thank Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu for his great support; he was with us in every aspect from the beginning to the end. Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Metin Genç is always with Trabzonspor; it is not enough to thank him enough. Our Sports Minister Osman Aşkın Bak was also with us during the tournament, promised the championship bonus and delivered the awards to our players. I also thank Mr. Berat Albayrak, who has always been with us, and Minister Faruk Nafiz Özak who did not leave us alone. This is just the beginning. I always told the kids; you did not lose, you learned. We had a very successful process. I am grateful to everyone” he concluded.
