25.06.2025 16:50
The president of Altınordu, Seyit Mehmet Özkan, stated that the Super League is seen as a league where Europeans spend their autumns and earn good money, saying, "We need to change this. We have 30 million young people. Just like Brazil and Croatia, we can export players. To achieve this, we need a system. Hopefully, that will happen."
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The Altınordu U12 Team faced Genç Özgür SK in the U12 İzmir League final. The red and blue team defeated their opponents 6-0, finishing the U12 İzmir League as champions. President Seyit Mehmet Özkan, who watched the final, made statements to Altınordu TV before the match.
''THIS NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO ALL OF TURKEY''
Emphasizing the great importance they place on the Altınordu U12 Team, Özkan stated, "This team is working really well. They have been playing together for a long time. 80% of our team has been playing together for 4-5 years. Our athletes, who have been receiving football training at our Yeşilyurt Central Football School since they were 7-8 years old, are among the best generations we have produced so far. We have also reinforced this team with players from our football schools in İzmir and Manisa. They played many matches before reaching the final. In the 13 matches we have played so far, they scored 68 goals and conceded 4. The league we are playing in is within İzmir, and this needs to be brought to all of Turkey. Again, the football team of the schools where these players study, Öğretmenler and Şeker Mevhibe Middle School, also became the second in Turkey," he said.
''WE NEED TO RAISE THESE CHILDREN WELL UNTIL THEY TURN 20''
Highlighting that the club's U11 and U10 teams are also doing well, like the Altınordu U12 Team, President Özkan said, "I believe these children will form the nucleus of a club that can achieve sustainable success emerging from their own city, playing in the top 5-6 leagues, just like the Athletic Bilbao model. We need to raise these children well until they turn 20. It is essential to engrain in their minds that this is a profession. There will be mental and physical losses until they reach 20 years of age. However, mental flaws are more prevalent than physical flaws. One of the reasons for these losses stems from our country's perspective on sports," he said.
''THE GERMAN FOOTBALL FEDERATION IS MOVING TOWARDS A NEW SYSTEM''
Özkan expressed that instead of innovation in younger age categories, correct training should be prioritized, and mentioned that the German Football Federation has started new initiatives in this regard, continuing his words as follows:
"If there is a league in younger age categories, championships are also necessary. I received new information. The German Football Federation has completely abolished championships up to U16 and changed the system. They play in separate formats: U10 with three-on-three, U11 with four-on-four, U12 with four-on-four, U15 with five-on-five, seven-on-seven, and nine-on-nine. The Germans have been convinced that this is not correct; they have started holding championships only from U17 onwards. It will be played this way next season as well. I agree with this thought of the Germans. While those who win championships at a young age are very happy, those who lose are very upset. We should not elevate championships to such a high level at young ages. We need to create an environment where the child's natural talent can develop without pressure. This will lead to the development of their natural talents."
THE CURE FOR TURKISH FOOTBALL
Reminding that in teams competing in the Super League, at most two Turkish players are forced to play in the starting eleven, President Özkan concluded his remarks by saying: "The Super League is seen in recent years as a league where Europeans spend their autumns and also earn good money during that time. We need to change this. We have 30 million young people. Just like Brazil and Croatia, we can export players. To achieve this, a system is needed. Hopefully, this will happen."
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