U15 KKTC Friendship Cup Will Open the Way for Turkish Cypriot Football

KTFF President Hasan Sertoğlu spoke by phone on the program "Kıbrıs'ta Sabah" broadcast on KIBRIS TV, making statements about the U15 KKTC Friendship Cup. Sertoğlu said the U15 teams of Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, Beşiktaş and Trabzonspor will face mixed teams from four regions in the TRNC. He stressed that the event is an important step for the future of Turkish Cypriot young footballers.

Sertoğlu, who argued that the event, launched through the initiatives of the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Youth and Sports, should not be limited to a two-day tournament, said the main goal is for youth teams to be able to take part in international matches from now on. Sertoğlu said it was important that the door would open after the tournament.

Sertoğlu said the cancellation of the Barcelona camp caused serious reactions in Türkiye and that the issue has returned to the agenda. He said they have held talks with FIFA and exchanged various correspondence to remove the obstacles facing Turkish Cypriot football. He noted that they have been saying for years that there is no obstacle from UEFA or FIFA to organizing youth matches, but that in the past, organizations planned with clubs in Türkiye were canceled after objections from the Greek Cypriot side.

Sertoğlu also said that UEFA and FIFA did not intervene in the process that led to the cancellation of the Barcelona camp.