Were you interested in any licensed sports before you started playing football?
I was interested in karate as a licensed student for a while, but it takes effort to be successful in sports. My choice was football, but I love every sport separately.
How did you become interested in football?
Our family has always been a sports-loving family. My father and brother are former football players. My mother also played a lot in her childhood, but since there was no concept of women's football at that time, she only played on the streets. My curiosity started by constantly seeing and hearing from my father and brother. I was so young that I don't even remember the first time a ball touched my foot.
What do you see as different in women's football compared to men's?
Inequality in absolutely every respect. While men are taken seriously in more professional environments, this is not possible in women's football; there are many more issues that need to be set as an example.
Do you think the transition to professionalism will increase the quality of women's football?
Of course, taking our work professionally is a very big concept because you now have to be more professional in every sense. Being a good athlete, both in thought and in life, depends on professional thinking and lifestyle. Disciplined life and sports increase quality.
There seems to be less bad cheering in the stands. How is the situation on the field? Are women more respectful to their rivals?
There are many beautiful pictures we see on the field, of course, sometimes we behave in ways that do not suit us with the atmosphere we live in. We are trying to brake it as much as possible. We always see each other as friends, not competitors. We help and support each other on the field, both with injuries and other issues.
Is the appreciation of women's football in a country one of the ways to make women more valuable?
Of course yes. Because they have to believe in us first. Women are very important parts of society and there is nothing they cannot do. When they believe in us, it makes us feel valuable. IT WILL GET BETTER IN THE FUTURE
Where do you see women's football in Turkey after 5 years? Do you think there is rapidly growing interest?
I think that after 5 years there will be a lot of women playing football and many things that are not working now will be alright then. I am sure that women will be supported and this situation will normalize.
What is the importance of women's football in terms of the place of football in society?
We don't get much attention or support right now. But I think it will become more valuable day by day.
What is the impact of women's football on women's social life? What is the impact of women's football on the social and cultural change of society? Effect on swearing, fighting, bad cheer, violence?
It is a situation that I absolutely condemn. We do not experience such things on the field very often in women's football, and when we do, we are very impressed. Sports is something that will make people feel positive. No one has the right to make anyone experience negative emotions and losses.
In the context of media and sponsorship, especially on TV, what should be done to make women's football more watched and find fans? What are your ideas on this subject?
Matches must be broadcast on TV and match schedule announcements must be made. In this way, we can attract the attention of people who hear it. There are people who do not yet know that there are women's leagues in our country.
What would you like to say about equal opportunities in women's football?
I think that women and men should have the same opportunities regardless of age.
Apart from the Women's Football Department, what other work would you like to be done and which units would you like to be opened in order to increase the support for women's football in the Turkish Football Federation? Do you find TFF's support for Women's Football sufficient?
There is great interest in our women's national team. We want to see the same interest from TFF in the leagues.
What kind of social work and cooperation would you like which organizations to carry out together with TFF for girls in rural areas in Türkiye who are talented in football but do not have the chance to play in a club because they do not have the opportunity?
I don't know which institutions should intervene, but a solution must be found for this. We have very talented sisters, not only in rural areas but all over Türkiye, who either quit or could not start playing football because they did not have the opportunity. I have experienced a lot of problems too, but good opportunities may not come to everyone, it is a difficult situation and it is an issue that needs to be fixed in order to lay a solid foundation in women's football.
When you first started playing football, did your coach give you bonuses for playing well?
no
What incentives do you receive today? What is your motivation for women's football?
Believe, believe, believe. We do our best for our personal development. We strive to be more successful and receive moral support.
