Best of Turkish football league awarded

ISTANBUL

Public and expert votes have chosen the best of the Spor Toto Super League’s last season, who received their awards at a ceremony on Sept. 12 night.

Former Galatasaray striker Bafetimbi Gomis received the “Footballer of the Year” award at the “Football’s Supers Awards,” while Galatasaray coach Fatih Terim was voted “Coach of the Year.”

Gomis, who moved to the Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal in the summer transfer window, joined the awards ceremony via video conference and said he was delighted to have been chosen for the honor “in a very competitive and high quality league.”

The French player was also voted “Striker of the Year.”

His former teammate Fernando Muslera received the “Goalkeeper of the Year” award, while Beşiktaş’s Pepe was voted the “Defender of the Year” and Emre Belözoğlu of Başakşehir the “Midfielder of the Year.”

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Turkish Football Federation (TFF) President Yıldırım Demirören said the awards ceremony was a testament to “the power of Turkish football and its organizational capabilities.”

“Our country, with its rich football culture, is ready to contribute to the development of European football,” Demirören said, noting that Turkey deserved to be selected as the host country of the 2024 European Championships.

“We want to harvest the fruits of our labor,” the TFF chair said. “Turkey is the only country that has the ability to host such a major organization but has not been given the chance. We are telling the people at the UEFA: Stop passing the ball around among yourselves and give the tournament to different countries. Turkish people love football very much. Many investments have been made in football in this country and we believe that we will get the tournament.”