All I Wanted To Do Is Play Football
Written by ATCA
Saturday, 20 August 2005

Written By Serkan H
atca@atcanews.org

All I wanted to do was play football (Australian Rules Football). The game with the ball that looks like a watermelon. The Turkish Cypriots refer to it as ‘Kavun Topu.’

I started playing at a young age. I think I was 10 years old. I played for my Primary School, and then I joined the local club at 13 years of age. Such a thrill I used to get to run out onto the football ground every Saturday morning and feel part of a team. I was part of something bigger and better.

As I got older I started to become a really good football player. I represented my district and even travelled around Australia representing different representative teams.

I won many awards and trophies, and everybody used to appreciate my efforts. At times I was feared by my opponents because I was physically bigger and a better player. I was labelled 'Serk The Turk.' I am being a little modest aren’t I?

So what happened? Why tthe transition from playing football at a competitive level to becoming involved with the Turkish Cypriot community and the events of Cyprus?

Well, it was nothing to do with my football career. It had more to do with the sense of unity I saw amongst the different ethnic groups I saw every Friday or Saturday night while I was out with friends.

We would often go to Italian or Greek restaurants/nightspots (as the night scene is dominated by these ethnic groups in Melbourne.) We would witness the Italian and Greek youth proudly showing their true colours. They would sing and dance to the latest pop music in their own language, while my friends and I would be distanced from it all. We will stand by and look on wishing that I could one day be with my people in the one room singing and dancing.

While I was jealous about all of this, I was also inspired. I often become inspired when I am ‘put down’ or when I lose strangely enough. I promised myself that I will make a difference for our people. Who said that going out to clubs can't teach you something?

A friend and I founded a Turkish Youth Club at the University we both were attending at the time. The year was 1998. The club was successful, but when we graduated and moved on, and we had nothing again as the club died a slow painless death.

I often asked myself the question ‘We had a Turkish Youth Club, but we never had a Turkish Cypriot Youth Club, why is that?’ Well we did, but it declined and ceased to exist over the years as well.

The year 2003. It is the birth of the Victoria North Cyprus Turkish Youth Club. A successful youth club with a lot of bright members that religiously attend functions and activities. God bless them.

The year 2004. It is the birth of ATCA. A year that I made my first pilgrimage to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in 23 years. It is the year I experience living like the Turkish Cypriots of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

My sense of belonging to the TRNC has now been taken to a new level. I am complete. It is not fair to take that away from me and all of the other Turkish Cypriot children growing up in today’s day and age. I am living proof of the TRNC and I will do everything in my power to ensure it is there forever.

Our parents grew up with a strong sense of belonging to their villages. The villages made our parents complete, not the old Republic of Cyprus. Cyprus had always been ravaged by guns, the fear of getting killed or kidnapped. Our parents felt safe in their villages with their Turkish families and friends until they were forced out never to return. At the best of times these villages were the TRNC's for our families.

The villages of our parents no longer exist. They are merely ghost towns in the forgotten South Cyprus. The good times and memories have been transferred to the TRNC - A place where everybody can travel freely enjoying peace and freedom. We no longer fear for our lives. Under the safety of the Turkish flag and the Turkish soldiers that protect our sovereignty, the Turkish Cypriots live a democratic and normal life.

We will not stand by and watch the living memories of the TRNC wither away as did the ones of our parents’ villages even if it means sacrificing our football career.

I do imagine sometimes what would have happened if I did become a superstar footballer. What difference would it have made on the opinions and thoughts of people towards the Cyprus issue? What if no www.atcanews.org existed, would it even matter at all?

More questions busily occupy my thoughts. Maybe I can answer all of them when I’m older. I might just have the answers for my children one day.

All I wanted to do was play football.

Beautifully written Serkan, you are an inspirational role model for our youth and future generations. I'm sure many of us can relate to the same emotions you have experienced about our people, culture and traditions whilst growing up in lands afar from Kibris.

A pleasure to read your articles, as always.

Get the troops out of Cyprus and you can play in a Cypriot team together with your Greek brothers.

It's not the troops who keep us from playing together fortunately, but rather the lack of equal rights.

We refuse to be treated as second class ever again by any Greek administration.

We would rather not play together and be recognised for our identity as Turkish Cypriots rather than be diluted into Hellenism.

It is the troops who are keeping you from integrating with us. If Turkey removed her troops, Cyprus would be unified again with no interference from the motherlands. Turkey does not what to do this though, since as we all know, Cyprus is important for Turkeys strategic interests and has been since the 1950s. Turkey has prevented the Cypriots from living together and playing on the same team - no one else.

Equal rights? You do have equal rights, the right to vote, the rights of freedom of expression and ALL the other inalienable human rights enshrined under the Human rights Charter. What lack of equal rights?

And who said anything about not recognising you as Turkish Cypriots and diluting you into Hellenism?

The most telling statement of why the above football player cannot play football with other Cypriots is this statement:

"We would rather not play together and be recognised for our identity as Turkish Cypriots rather than be diluted into Hellenism."

Who said anything about diluting you? You are seriously paranoid. Will we be taking your Turkish identity - i don't get it?
It is clear that you have serious misunderstandings - if all TCs think like you then i'm suprised at how 65% of them voted yes for the reunification with GCs!!!

It is clear that it is YOU who doesn't want to play football in a team of Cypriots with Greeks and Turks in the same team because you want your own identity and not a Cypriot identity - this is clear in your last statement.
So, before you start complaining of Greeks presently wishing to deny you rights, understand that enosis is dead and will never seek to 'dilute' you and it is in fact Turkeys/Denktash's intransigent attitude for 30 years that has kept you isolated and without a common bond with your former neighbours. This is the main reason why TC cannot play in a recognised football team.
Get rid of Turkey's influence and Denktash (one down one to go0 and you'd stop scoring so many own goals