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A Magnificent show
for the centenary year
Look and learn the rest of the world
The activities for the centenary year celebrations of
the Galatasaray Sports Club began with the lighting of a
flame at Galatasaray High School. Chairman Özhan
Canaydın and former chairman Selahattin Beyazıt placed a
wreath on the Galatasaray Martyrs Memorial contained in
the grounds of Galatasaray High School and marked their
respect.
A true night of celebration |
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 Following
this, the founding of the yellow-and-red club was re-enacted by
actor Tarık Papuçcuoğlu in the 10 Literature A classroom,
where the first steps towards the establishment of the club were
taken. Then the burning torch in the hands of the student
playing the role of Ali Sami Yen was taken out of the high
school in the hands of the students. With the participation of a
large number of Galatasaray fans who were waiting outside the
High School, the torch was carried up Istiklal Caddesi in the
company of huge crowds. The torch was handed over to Galatasaray
athletes, and passed from hand to hand between Taksim and Şişli,
on the way to Ali Sami Yen Stadium.
The Centenary Torch was lit
After the torch lit in Galatasaray High School had been brought
to the stadium by the athletes, the stadium lights were
quenched, and the centenary torch was lit by Ahmet Yumlukaya and
Emre Oral, who came first in the World Youth Rowing
Championship. While the centenary torch, which is located in the
new open tribunes, was being lit the tribunes went crazy. The
stadium was lit up with their torches after the lights were put
out, and Galatasaray chants were sung with great gusto.
The Galatasaray and Turkish Flags were paraded round the
Stadium
The Galatasaray and Turkish flags were paraded around the pitch
to the accompaniment of the 10. Yıl and Dağ Başını Duman Almış
songs. It was an emotional moment for everyone as the flags were
carried by sportsmen, and all the supporters joined in the
singing with all their hearts.
Flags and lion t-shirts for the fans
The Galatasaray Club distributed 18 thousand lion t-shirts and
flags to the fans at the match. On the first day of the
centenary celebrations, Ali Sami Yen Stadium turned into a sea
of yellow and red, and fans made shows with their scarves and
flags to musical accompaniment. The footballers took to the
field with a giant Galatasaray flag reading Hand-in-hand for
the Centenary Year, and performed their warm-up exercises
wearing sweatshirts carrying a lions picture.
Özhan Canaydın: Galatasaray is the best
Chairman Özhan Canaydın was applauded to the podium with cheers
of Great Chairman, where he said that the centenary torch that
they had all lit
together was full of meaning. Calling out to fans watching from
every part of Turkey and from around the world, Canaydın said
This torch is our glorious history, stretching back for a
century and forward eternally. We have the pride and good
fortune to fulfil the order of the Great Ataturk to sportive
Turkish youth. I believe that the blessed souls of our founder
Ali Sami Yen and his friends are with us today. We bow before
these lionhearted Galatasaray men in respect, because they gave
us the ultimate joy of saying I support Galatasaray. Let us be
proud to be a part of the glorious history and culture of a club
that is 100 years old. Let us call out to the world, because we
are Galatasaray fans. I am addressing all Galatasaray fans
throughout the world. From 19:05 onwards hang your flags in your
windows. Galatasaray is the greatest, at every time and in every
place. Let us give our all for Galatasaray. Happy Centenary Year
and thank you all.
Celebrations began at 19.05
The celebrations began directly after the Chairmans speech at
19.05 with a fireworks and lights display. The fans were
entertained by a group of 120 drummers from the Anatolian Fire
Group. This drum show lasted about 5 minutes and was thoroughly
enjoyed by the fans.
Chairmen link up
Former Galatasaray chairmen Selahattin Beyazıt, Ali Tanrıyar and
Mehmet Cansun took their places on the podium together with
current Chairman Özhan Canaydın. Their entrance was announced
individually, after which they joined hands to salute the fans.
Telephone links to various countries
"Hopdedik Ayhan", well-known to the Galatasaray tribunes, was
acting as MC for the activities in Ali Sami Yen Stadium, and
received celebratory messages via telephone from Galatasaray
fans in the USA, Australia, Belgium, TRNC, South Korea and
England including email from Get Your Kits Out - Malc Hough's
excellent website at
http://website.lineone.net/~malcolm.hough . Fans also
expressed their wish that Galatasaray would win the championship
in its centenary year over loudspeaker announcements in the
stadium.
Hakan Şükür Posters to all the Tribunes
Galatasaray fans did not forget Hakan Şükür at the Kayserispor
match, at which the centenary year celebrations were begun.
Emphasising the importance given to Hakan Şükür, fans hung
Hakans picture from all the tribunes. Also, amid chants of
Hakan Şükür, Hakan Şükür, they watched replays of his goals on
the scoreboards, cheering Oley for each goal. Fans also
chanted Emperor Fatih Terim, we are with you until you die as
they watched replays of the matches played in the season when
Galatasaray won the UEFA Cup. Fans displayed placards saying We
are laughing with you in our centenary year and Sultan of the
Century.
Parade
A parade was also held as part of the activities. Students of
Galatasaray High School and University, former sportsmen and
women, branch and infrastructure sportsmen and women took part
in the parade, saluting the tribunes with flags in their hands.
Opinion of the Ex-chairmen
The beginning of Galatasarays centenary year gave great joy to
the clubs former chairmen. Ex-chairman Ali Tanrıyar said that
they were very proud that the club was in its 100th year,
stating I am very happy today. When I saw all that happened in
the Stadium I was even happier. I pray that all branches win
their respective championships. Galatasaray means Champions.
Mehmet Cansun, stressing that the club had completed its first
century, added This is really something to be proud of. I would
like to thank everyone involved in this. Alp Yalman and Faruk
Süren unfortunately were unable to attend. Otherwise they would
definitely have been here.
Gürsoy: Its like the old days again
The Second Chairman of Galatasaray Sports Club, Ergun Gürsoy,
stated that he was very happy about the centenary celebrations.
The atmosphere in the stadium is bring back the old days to
me. Saying that they wanted to continue to share such happy
occasions in the future, Gürson said Nobody expected anything
from Galatasaray last year. But after the general assembly
things began to happen. Galatasaray will recover its old days.
We are working on solutions to get over our financial
difficulties. If its necessary for the championship we will get
reinforcements. We will definitely get a player in the mid-term
transfers. Theres no point in me naming names now but we have
some names in our head.
Turgay Kıran: This is just a start
Assistant Chairmand of the Galatasaray Sports Club and head of
the Centenary Celebrations Committee Turgay Kıran stated that
they had been preparing for the celebrations for 4.5 months,
adding We worked intensively with a 100-person team. This is
just a start. The preparations have been a lot of fun. There
will be a lot of shows in the next 1.5 years. Galatasarays
value cant be measured with money. Everyone played some part in
these celebrations. Without spending any money this beautiful
atmosphere was created. |
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We
beat our traditional rivals Fenerbahçe 1-0 in Ali Sami
Yen Stadium on the 16th week of the league. Necati
scored the winning goal in the 55th minute in a game
that was dominated by Galatasaray
from beginning to end.
