Kadırga Sports Club: As a Community Identity & Memory Keeper

https://www.youtube.com/embed/jh6o2jSjlww

00.13- NURCAN: Did your childhood also pass here?

PİRHAN BEY: Yes, we were always together here. But let me tell you how old I am, I came when I was 6-7 years old.

MURAT: Did you play in the same team, sir?

PİRHAN BEY: No.

MURAT: You were not in the same generation.

AYHAN BEY: Of course, we used to play together in our childhood. But we played football together here... MURAT: Because there are many who played together in Kadırga.

PİRHAN BEY: Yes, many.

-00.35- NURCAN: But how far back does the history of this sports club go?

AYHAN BEY: It was founded in 1952.

MURAT: There is an old captain of Galatasaray, Mehmet Abi. He often comes here. He may come soon. ?: Look at the pictures from 2002, all the national players came out of here.

NURCAN: Let's see, yes.

AYHAN BEY: For example, one of them made a jersey for Beşiktaş on their 100th anniversary, and the names of all the footballers who came and went are written on it. There are about 19 from Kadırga Sports Club. From those years, a long time ago.

-01.08- NURCAN: Very interesting. So, there seems to be a connected tradition that has been established here for a very long time.

PİRHAN BEY: 80% of those who come here always sit outside. They come from over there, I come from Yedikule. There are those who come from Bakırköy, from Avcılar. But what?

AYHAN BEY: Especially today, it gets very crowded.

PİRHAN BEY: I'm a taxi driver, I put my family in the car and came here. It's like this place will save me. I got out, parked. I came to Kadırga with the car.

NURCAN: Interesting. So, there is some kind of emotional attachment here.

AYHAN BEY: Of course, of course. For example, Kadırga Sports Club, which is loved and respected, is like the Real Madrid amateur sports club. We can say that in that way.

-01.58- NURCAN: But it doesn't just seem like a sports club to me, there is something else here, like an atmosphere.

AYHAN BEY: Yes, there is everything.

NURCAN: Is it in the park here?

MURAT: Here, in front of our school, ma'am.

NURCAN: Oh, on the street.

PİRHAN BEY: Hot food...

MURAT: On the sidewalk.

AYHAN BEY: That Imren Restaurant across the street really makes good food. They don't work during Ramadan. We pay them monthly and they make food for us. For example, it was 4000 liras before. We give 4000 lira, and we give food to 200 people every night.

NURCAN: Every night?

PİRHAN BEY: Every night, every night.

MURAT: Everyone in the neighborhood also comes, ma'am.

NURCAN: Oh, so you are doing it as a club again.

PİRHAN BEY: Of course, as a club. But what are you saying? You say, "I will pay for tonight's dinner, ma'am."

NURCAN: I understand.

MURAT: They make a list.

PİRHAN BEY: They ask, "How many people will come? 15 people, 10 people, 5 people." They prepare a table for you. Whoever comes by the road.