The under-15 teams of the big four took to the field in Nicosia for the TRNC Friendship Cup

Against the sports embargoes against Turkish Cypriots, the under-15 teams of Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, Beşiktaş and Trabzonspor took to the field in Nicosia for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Friendship Cup.

TRNC Friendship Cup events, organized with the contributions of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, started with a cortege march in the morning.

In the cup events at Nicosia Atatürk Stadium, the matches started after a moment of silence and the singing of the National Anthem.

Speaking on the occasion of the tournament, Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak criticized the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus (GCA)'s prevention of the event of Spain's Barcelona team in the TRNC and the embargoes imposed against the Turkish Cypriots, and said that despite all this, Türkiye's four biggest clubs came to the TRNC and gave an important message.

Minister Bak thanked the managers of Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, Beşiktaş and Trabzonspor and emphasized that Türkiye's four biggest clubs showed an important solidarity by participating in the organization.

Minister Bak pointed out the unifying power of sports and Türkiye's support for the youth of the TRNC and said, "Today, we are organizing a truly beautiful event for Northern Cyprus. Our aim is for young people to do sports. We do not accept obstacles being placed in front of young people. The children of this place have united with the children of the motherland. We are having a beautiful festival today. We thank those who contributed." he said.

Bak also stated that a stadium will be built in TRNC and said, "Hopefully, we will build a living stadium here, as we did before. We are always with you. No matter what anyone says, we are one heart, one nation. Together, we will ensure the strengthening, development and development of sports in Northern Cyprus." he said.

"They cannot ignore the Turkish Cypriots"

In his speech, TRNC Prime Minister Ünal Üstel criticized the Greek Cypriot Administration's attempts to prevent international activities for children in Northern Cyprus and said:

"Europe and the world may embargo us, but the world should not forget that they can never ignore the Turkish Cypriots. The participation of Türkiye's four biggest football clubs in the Friendship Cup held in TRNC is an important example of solidarity against the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people. Thank you Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, Beşiktaş and Trabzonspor."

Stating that Turkish Cypriot athletes have been struggling with various obstacles for years to participate in international organizations, Üstel said that sports federations and young people are trying to take part in international organizations with individual initiatives.

Referring to the fact that the organization planned by the Barcelona Football Academy in TRNC could not be held as a result of the initiatives of the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus, Üstel added that the development victimized the Turkish Cypriot children.

The under-15 teams of the big four teams met with the TRNC teams.

In the tournament, the under-15 teams of Türkiye's four biggest clubs and the teams of Nicosia, Kyrenia, Famagusta, Iskele, Guzelyurt and Lefke met.