NEWS

The Istanbul portion was organized by the Turkish Football Federation with the support of Ülker, the participation of TFF Football Development Director Tolunay Kafkas and the Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, Beşiktaş and Trabzonspor football schools at the Beylerbeyi Stadium. Ülker, which has been the TFF’s main sponsor in projects that give children the opportunity to do sports, get training and socialize since 2007, also livened up the event with various activities.

Tolunay Kafkas: “On Grassroots Day the excitement of football was experienced in the four corners of our country.”

Tolunay Kafkas, who pointed out that they had celebrated Grassroots Day with 47 clubs including the Spor Toto Super League and Bank Asya 1st League clubs, thanked all of the clubs that gave their support to Grassroots Day and added that they believe their support would contribute to the growth of the organization. Kafkas continued by stating that it was a very enjoyable celebration for football and emphasized that the excitement of football had been experienced in the four corners of the country.

Kafkas, who said that they view Grassroots as a program that not only provides resources for elite football but enables people to socialize through football and contributes to leading a healthier life, added that their priority in this area is children. Serious advancements have been made in the area of children’s football with the Football Training Centers and Football Village projects that are continuing under the sponsorship of Ülker.

Zuhal Şeker: “We are investing in children, who are the future of Turkish sports”

Yıldız Holding Corporate Communications General Manager Zuhal Şeker also shared her views on Grassroots Day, stating that their priority goal as a company is to make a difference in the lives of children and to contribute to their multifaceted development, especially physically and culturally.

Şeker added, “We place great significance on infrastructure and, more importantly, the creation of active, sports-loving generations. With the many different projects that we have undertaken with the Turkish Football Federation from June of 2007 to the present, we are trying to educate children and raise good athletes and sports lovers. We are very pleased to be able to say that we have reached over 220,000 children as a result of our efforts.”