11.12.2025 21:05
In Zonguldak, retired miner Özdemir Dayanıklı, a football enthusiast, contributes to the development of young athletes in the amateur football team where he has served as a coach and later as a manager. The 89-year-old Özdemir Dayanıklı stated, "I took the initiative to serve the youth. They also contributed to us, and our team has grown steadily. I am proud that we are raising moral and well-mannered athletes here."
In the Kozlu district of Zonguldak, retired miner Özdemir Dayanıklı, a football enthusiast, has touched the lives of young people with the club he took over.
89 YEARS OLD BUT STILL CONNECTED TO FOOTBALL
Dayanıklı, 89 years old, a father of two and grandfather of five, retired from the Turkish Hard Coal Enterprise (TTK) Kozlu Division 45 years ago. He has never severed his bond with football, which he has loved since his youth. In addition to his job, he played football for a while and later worked as a coach in the city for many years. Dayanıklı wanted to establish a club named after his neighborhood, Topbaşı, to keep young people away from bad habits and guide them towards sports.
Learning that the management of the club, which was then called "Kasaptarlaspor," was to be handed over to them, Dayanıklı and his friends proposed to change the team's name to "Merkez Topbaşıspor" on the day of the congress, thus taking ownership of the team about 32 years ago. Over time, the name changed to "Kozlu Miners Topbaşıspor," and after serving as a coach, Dayanıklı took on an administrative role, contributing to the development of young athletes.
'STAYING ACTIVE WITH SPORTS KEEPS ME VIGOROUS'
Özdemir Dayanıklı told an AA reporter that establishing the team was his biggest dream.
He expressed great happiness in being with the youth, always wanting to do something for them, saying, "We established the club to keep young people away from bad habits, and we succeeded. Good football players emerged from here, we achieved rankings, and we became champions."
Dayanıklı stated that thanks to sports, he has never smoked and has no bad habits, adding that he still walks to places he needs to go and that he stays healthy while engaging with the youth.
He expressed his desire to remain involved in sports until the end of his life, saying, "Being involved in sports keeps me vigorous. Thanks to being with sports and young people, I am able to stay active. If I were to stop doing this and just sit at home, I might collapse. I am grateful to them for this."
Emphasizing that their doors are open to everyone, Dayanıklı noted that they provide all the equipment that athletes need, including training materials.
Dayanıklı expressed his joy at the team's victories and his sadness at their defeats, stating, "When we lose, I don't show my sadness to my children. Even if my heart aches, I don't show it. It affects me. I never accepted defeat while playing. Football is a sport with three possibilities, but sports always require sportsmanship. I took the initiative to serve the youth. They also contributed to us, and our team grew steadily. I am proud that we are raising ethical and well-mannered athletes here."