African Nations Cup in Turkey

This might sound surprising for football lovers across Africa to know that apart from the CAF-organised African Cup of Nations, AFCON, there is another one in existence in Turkey. Our correspondent, who just came back from Kayseri and Istanbul, writes.

 

Istanbul, the commercial city of Turkey is the host of virtually all the Africans based in the country. Due to the number of Africans in the city, Istanbul was chosen as the venue for the annual Africa Nations Cup Football Tournament (in Turkish) Afrika Kupasi Futbol Turnuvasi.

The tournament which started 19 years ago used to be played at the Ferikoy soccer stadium in Istanbul but this year’s edition was played at the Fatih Belediyesi Municipal Council Stadium.

Because of the consistency of the tournament and integration of Africans in that country, the organizers found corporate sponsors for this year’s edition including the Fatih Belediyesi Municipal Council, which provided the stadium, water and some other packages.

Just like any other tournament, the AFCON enjoys great support from everywhere including spectatorship. In the stands, all the spectators and fans are Africans. Just like it is seen at all venues of the AFCON, spectators from different countries came with their drums and other musical instruments to support their darling teams.

Turkey citizens and other nationals are also not left out, as they were seen littered around the stadium to watch African football live at their doorsteps. The officiating officials are from the Turkish Football Referees and the match is played on a standard pitch, well-lawn. The tournament and the organization is of high standard.

Apart from the Municipal Council chairman that declared the tournament open, ambassadors of some African countries were present at the opening ceremony but Nigerian ambassador was nowhere near the venue not even a representative.

This is one of the reasons why the Nigerians in Turkey led by its president, Prince George Magboh are calling for the recall of the ambassador, Alhaji Ahmed Madori, who they claimed does not represent their interest.

Meanwhile, organizers of the tournament said they founded the annual football tournament to assist African footballers who went to Turkey to seek for clubs but got stranded.

The chairman of the organiser, a Nigerian and ex-footballer, Francis Ugbomah said “The tournament was introduced to help African players in Turkey who came in search of clubs and got stranded. We don’t want them to be frustrated and go into illicit activities, that is why we created this avenue for them.”

He disclosed that the tournament is also to keep the players in shape before they are discovered by scouts. Ugbomah said scouts do come and pick players at the tournament; he noted that many African players especially Nigerians have been taken to top clubs in Turkey and other countries. 

Another ex-footballer, Matthew Kofi, a Ghanaian, who featured in the AFCON, further noted that the organizers are trying to showcase African soccer talents in Turkey. And also maybe land some of the players some spots on some of Turkey’s 135 professional clubs.

One of the beneficiaries of the AFCON, Emeka Uzor narrated how the tournament has transformed his life. He told our correspondent that he was invited by a football agent and when he got to Turkey, he was asked to bring some certain amount of money which he couldn’t raise hence he was stranded.

After borrowing money to come to Turkey, he couldn’t return to Nigeria to give excuse to the people he borrowed money from but luckily for him, he was told about the AFCON tournament.

According to Uzor, he didn’t know that scouts were around; he just played his game and trying to ensure that his country wins, only to be approached by a scout and taken to a club in Turkey.

He said although, it is a second division club but it is better than staying idle doing nothing. “Only God knows what I would have been doing by now because I can’t go back home with shame, frustration would have killed me and the people I borrowed money from would have also been all over me,” he noted.

He however disclosed that he has since sent the money he raised to come to Turkey to the people and he is doing well.

However, not every player that played the tournament was lucky to get a club in the country. For instance, MacPhillip Peters in an exclusive interview narrated how he was also stranded and frustrated without club and was contemplating going into business before he got a club in Cyprus. He said his exploits in Cyprus brought him back to Turkey before he hung his boots.

Francis Obome, a Nigerian, who is now into business said, “I came here to do the same thing, but unfortunately luck was not on my side but I thank I am doing well.”

Obome played professional soccer in Nigeria. Like a good number of them, he came to Turkey at the invitation of a soccer team, but in the end didn’t make the cut. “When we came here, we try to play professional football but we couldn’t make it, so me and my friends decided that we are footballers, we relax because we are not playing. Let us organize something like this, to encourage the young ones coming to this place,” he disclosed.

Pascal Ekene, 23 also narrated how he was left stranded when the team which brought him from Nigeria said they ran out of money. But a Turkish club picked him to play for them. Like many African players, Ekene’s dream of playing in Europe has come to past.

Ekene said, “Of course, every player in the world dreams how to go Europe and play good football.  If you ask even a baby in her mother’s womb, he will tell you he is dreaming of going to Europe to play football.”

Chamberlain Akano, also from Nigeria, has lived in Istanbul for 18 years. He says Africans used to see Istanbul as a stop-over on the way to Europe, but many have decided to stay back.

Akano says Turkey has changed as well. Africans in Turkey used to live in fear of arbitrary police brutality. “There is change towards the blacks that is why you hear the blacks making noise here. It is not done in the past in Turkey. Now Blacks go home freely, they are not afraid of anything or being molested. Nobody disturbs them on the street. Many of them here now have their papers; they are married to Turkish people,” he said.

Meanwhile, Nigerian football team crashed out of this year’s tournament, which was ongoing as at press time, after a 1-1 draw with Senegal. The Nigerians had earlier drew two of their matches, won one and lost one to get five points from four matches.

The coach of the Nigerian side, MacPhillips Peter, revealed that he decided to feature players who are actually seeking for club, which according to him is the main objective of the tournament. He said he had better and quality players who are playing in the Turkish league but just decided to stick to the ones that are seeking for greener pastures. Nigeria has won nine of the 19 edition since the tournament started.

12 countries participated in this year’s edition; they are Burkina-Faso, Ghana, Guinea, Cameroun, Congo, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somali, Zambia, and Cote d'Ivoire. Uganda is the defending champions but unable to make it to this year’s football tournament.

As the African Nations Cup heads toward the final match, the players are playing their best game and hoping Turkish scouts discover them. Of the teams in the competition so far, Nigerians have always have upper hand hence their players are scattered all over Turkish leagues. In fact, there were claims that because other African countries are not many, Nigerian players are used to make up their numbers.

Some Nigerians who spoke with our correspondent urged local government areas to emulate the Fatih Belediyesi Municipal Council by providing sporting facilities for the youths and children, so that they can discover their God’s given talent and channel their energy towards positive activities rather than go into crimes.

They also want the country’s football ruling body, NFF to re-organize the league so that unrefined players don’t sneak out of the country anymore to avoid embarrassment some of them caused them especially those who could not be spotted in order to avoid being stranded in other countries.