Four Major Clubs Competed in Lefkoşa at the TRNC Friendship Cup

The TRNC Friendship Cup was held to strengthen the bonds of friendship and brotherhood between the Republic of Türkiye and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus through sport. The U15 teams of Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray and Trabzonspor from Türkiye met Turkish Cypriot youth at Lefkoşa Atatürk Stadium. The tournament also featured select teams from Lefkoşa, Girne, Gazimağusa/İskele and Güzelyurt/Lefke.

TRNC Prime Minister Ünal Üstel also attended the event. Minister of Youth and Sports Dr. Osman Aşkın Bak highlighted the unifying power of sport and Türkiye's support for Turkish Cypriot youth. Bak stated that the event is important for Northern Cyprus and that their goal is to ensure young people take part in sports. He also stressed that they do not accept any obstacles being placed in front of young people.

Bak said he was pleased that four major Turkish clubs had come to the TRNC. He said he had called the club presidents one by one and received positive responses from them. Referring to the Greek Cypriot administration's attempts to block a Barcelona football camp planned in the TRNC, Bak said the four major clubs showed solidarity by taking part in the event.

Bak noted that sports facilities and stadiums have been built across Türkiye and announced that work to develop sports infrastructure in the TRNC will continue. He recalled President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's words that there is no obstacle to sport, and said they would build a living stadium, one that is actively used, as they had done before. Bak stressed that they will work together to strengthen Northern Cyprus and develop sport.