The Women’s Football Strategic Plan, which will be reported to FIFA and UEFA, was announced by the President of the Turkish Football Federation, Mehmet Büyükekşi. In addition to TFF President Mehmet Büyükekşi, Board Member Responsible for Women’s Football and Sustainability Şafak Müderrisgil, National Women’s Football Team Coach Necla Güngör Kıragası and players of the National Women’s Football Team attended the introductory meeting held at the TFF building.
“WE ARE AWARE THAT WE NEED TO PROVIDE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES IN FOOTBALL”
Speaking at the meeting, Turkish Football Federation President Mehmet Büyükekşi said, “In order to continue our social development, every segment of society must benefit from equal rights and have equal opportunities. Today, in our country, care services should be strengthened, flexible working styles should be developed, incentive mechanisms should be created, studies on informality and women participating in employment should be ensured.” The number of women has exceeded 10 million. We all have a responsibility to increase this number. Thanks to the work of our state and non-governmental organizations to raise awareness of gender equality, women with increased educational opportunities have begun to successfully take part in business life by developing their expertise. In football, women also work as football players, coaches, technicians, etc. “We care about and support their participation in employment as directors, referees, professional football managers and employees. We are aware that we need to ensure social equality of opportunity in football. We are working to ensure that women are the main actors of football, both in the stands and on the field.”
“WE WILL BREAK THE MEMORY OF ‘HE KITS THE BALL LIKE A GIRL'”
Pointing out that there are wrong memorizations in Turkish football, Mayor Büyükekşi said, “What is this memorization; ‘You kick the ball like a girl’. We oppose this. If girls, who are introduced to the football ball at an early age and acquire the habit of kicking the ball, become interested in football, it is obvious how they will kick the ball.” In this context, we are proud to be the management that established the women’s football committee and women’s football directorate for the first time in the history of TFF. Again, for the first time in the history of TFF, our female board members took part in the boards of directors I chair and continue to do so. By the way, due to their devoted work I would like to thank our first female board members, Ms. Nükhet, Ms. İdil and Ms. Şafak. We also decided to establish the U-23 Women’s Football National Team and the Futsal Women’s A National Team. We appointed Necla, the first female coach of our National Team. In the Nations League, which was held for the first time with our National Women’s Football Team, we were promoted from the C League to the B League, without conceding a goal, being undefeated and being the group leader. Last month, Birgül Sadıkoğlu, one of the midfielders of our National Team, was transferred from Ankara Fomget Club to UD Tenerife, which competes in the top league of Spain. I also congratulate Birgül and believe that she will represent Turkey successfully in Spain. “I wholeheartedly believe that the number of female football players playing abroad will increase,” she said.
“WE WILL INTRODUCE OUR PROJECT CALLED OUR COURSE FOOTBALL ON MARCH 19”
“As the Turkish Football Federation, which is aware of the important role football plays in the mental and physical development and self-confidence of our girls, we signed a protocol with our Ministry of National Education and our Ministry of Youth and Sports,” said Mehmet Büyükekşi, and continued as follows:
“With this protocol, our project called Dersimiz Football, which we started in 16 pilot provinces for our children in the 6-14 age group within the scope of our football development project, has reached 500 thousand children, boys and girls. With our project called Dersimiz Football, we introduce our girls and boys in the 6-14 age group to the game of football. “And we instill the love of football in them. Our lesson is that we are preparing to hold another big organization on March 19 within the scope of our Football project.”
“OUR CLUBS’ INTEREST IN WOMEN’S FOOTBALL IS INCREASING”
TFF President stated that there are clubs across Turkey that have been investing in women’s football for years and said, “Today, the fact that our 4 biggest clubs have women’s football teams increases the interest in women’s football. I would especially like to thank all our clubs that invest in women’s football in the infrastructure academies and A teams. Let’s not forget that women are on the field.” “The increase in football players and female fans in the stands will enable football to reach all segments of society in our country and increase the healing power of football.”
“OUR WOMEN’S FOOTBALL STRATEGIC PLAN IS READY”
Stating that he believes that the Women’s Football Strategic Plan will contribute to the development of women’s football in the country, Büyükekşi said, “Today, we are happy to share with the public our women’s football strategy plan, which we will share with FIFA and UEFA on March 8, International Women’s Day. The management who contributed to the preparation of our women’s football strategy plan is primarily I would like to thank all those who contributed, including our board member Şafak Hanım. I wholeheartedly believe that our strategy plan will make a great contribution to the development of women’s football in our country. Before I end my words, I would like to remind you of the words of the great Turkish poet Neşet Ertaş: ‘Women are human beings, we are human beings.’ 8 March World “I congratulate Women’s Day again,” he said.