DIFFICULTIES FACED WITH AFTER THE FOUNDATION OF THE ASSOCIATION

The difficulties faced with from the foundation of the association to 70's and all hard times, humiliations.. all are well known by those who contributed to association. These days are told by Sahir Gürkan.

We had finally founded the association, we were meeting each day and discussing. We did not even have a type-writer or photocopy(teksir) machine. We decided to make our first visit to Mr. Orhan Seref Apak, president of Football Federation. Muhterem Özyurt was resigned from his task in Manisa after 4 months. By this visit we would try to empower the relations and forced the conditions in order to response the needs of amateur teams in terms of trainers.

We ordered a packet of chocolate and went to him. Mr Ibrahim Onuk who was a head master, brought us to president. We were all standing. After a few words I put the packet on to the table. We were all feeling respect to him. He was one of the important figures who served to Turkish Football. And we were all sure that he would also serve to trainers.

Mr. Apak slowly pushed the packet and said: "Don't you know that I do not like chocolate, there is an association in Istanbul, what need to you?" we were all shocked and couldn't find anything to say. We did not sit and left there in a very sad mood. In the following days we relaxed, there was no need to be sensitive. The week after I went to Ibrahim Onuk as usual. While I was wondering in the building Mr. Apak has seen me and invited me to his room and ordered tea. This gave courage to me. I have visited Federation more frequently. I had been working as a representative and observer for 4-5 years. So one day I had mentioned about course. President was totally oppose to this idea. The course of Manisa was enough for that time, there were 54 graduates.

Mr. Apak couldn't be visited informally. In fact he was not very fond of us, as association. For this reason I began to visit him rarely. At that time Cihat Arman was at the head of national team. May be with the effect of our insistence or most probably with the suggestions of Cihat Arman, Federation decided to organize a course in Izmir. It was the same schedule, even more enlarged and with the same instructor with the Manisa course. But the level of the course was B license. There was a seminar 3 days after the course. The trainers who were educated in manisa, participated to the seminar. Kirchrath brought a very well-known masseur, Deuser and a doctor with him.

Cihat Atman criticized the foundation of an association in Ankara, we said nothing. In that day it has been decided to visit the grave of an old football player and graduate of Manisa course, Vahap Özaltay, with the proposal of Cihat Arman. We went to cemetery, Cihat Arman was at the front. We stand still around the grave. Kirchrath was looking at us with astonishment. Cihat said nothing and we had waited for him to say something. Then he left the cemetery. I still feel guilty about this. Why did not I say nothing? Why did not I offer to collect money in order to organize the grave. Was it fair to that big player who had represented Turkish football for years? What about Kirchrath? What was he thinking about this?

Football was changing in the world. The conditions for transfering new information were limited, the ones who can take responsibility were reluctant, football federation was not interested. the founders and the members of the new association were working hard. Günaydin Özyurt, Kazym Türesin, erkan Kural were wandering in the 19 Mayis stadium with receipts in their hands and trying to collect fees. Ziya taner was constantly doing translations. And I was trying to copy papers with a very limited conditions. And none of us rebel to this hard conditions. We all very pleased to do something unreturned.

In 1965's November I went to Mr. Apak and I repeated my suggestion of opening courses, I tried to tell about primitive training conditions. He asked me how such talented players could exist from such primitive conditions and without waiting my answer mentioned about education obligation that we offer. He said " People can enter national assembly with only literacy, they can be even president and you talk about obligation of education for trainers. I warn you, I will not let you open these courses, if it is necessary I will open courses with my own trainers."

I was bored with all these quarrels. In those days Cihat Arman, Seref Görkey and Sabri Kiraz were directors of national team, hope national team and young national team, respectively. I said :"you cannot open courses with these staff but we will open courses as association." I said this but we did not have necessary preparation, we did need time.

At that time Mr. Apak gave task to sabri Kiraz. He wanted him to make preparations to open courses, copy the notes of Manisa and Izmir courses and give responsibility to his friends. Sabri Kiraz was telling all these to us. He said he could not manage this alone, the other two friends of him were reluctant to work.

In 1966, Galip Türkkan from Eskisehir visited me as always he did when he comes to Ankara. He had played football in Yugoslavia in star level and he was one of the closest friends of Ziya Taner. He had belief in the importance of education in Football and he was working voluntarily. I mentioned about the discussion of us with Orhan Seref Apak. And asked him for advice. He said to me." It is an easy stuff, let me look in eskisehir, don't think about it, we can open a course in Eskisehir."