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Gokmen Ozdemir: Arabs want to take opportunity of Galatasarayâ€™s financial problems and dictate their rules

11 April 2007 08:46 (UTC +04:00)

Well-known Turkish sport commentator, sport reporter in Veten newspaper Gokmen Ozdemir commented on situation in Galatasaray in the interview with APA-Sport bureau

-How do you assess the situation of Galatasaray as a commentator?
- There is system in Turkey and all teams following this system achieve success. Good relations with the Football Federation are part of this system. Fenerebakhche used this system in 2000-2001 and Galatasaray last year and won the national championship. Everything is a part of this system and everyone knows the club activities well. And they try to interfere in the system. But no one is able to spoil it. If looking at last 7 weeks in League, we can see Beshiktash and Fenerbekhche fought hard for the championship. I prefer Beshiktash in this struggle because it is supported by powerful lobby and their games are easy.
- So, you want t say that everything depends on this system...
- Actually, it is a legal system.
-You are one of most objective commentators of Galatasaray. You wrote last year that the players made Galatasaray a champion. How much do you see the role of club leadership?
- Galatasaray players have habits since past to win. They couldnâ€™t win for a long time. They did everything last season to gain achievements. This season we see the players are â€œsatedâ€. They are not much interested in winning.
- Is there a difference for club leadership?
- Club is managed badly. There is a â€œstopâ€ in the team. The players should have all necessary conditions to feel strong in the field. They would play much better after it. The season for Galatasaray ended before time. There is going to be great changes in the club next season. But for the time being, the club cannot afford it.
- Can the reserved team change the team in that case?
- Galatasaray may pick max 3 players from reserved team. But you cannot hit big targets with the reserved players. The club needs at least two years to make new players get adjusted to the team.
Is there hope the financial situation will improve?
- Riva territory will probably be sold. But they havenâ€™t received a satisfactory offer. The income will be used to pay bank debt and to purchase new loans. Galatasaray earned â‚¬10.5 this year from Champions League. They will not get it next year and I think it will be difficult for the team.
- They say the construction of new stadium will begin in near future...
- It cannot begin till July. The club carried out negotiations with an Arabic bank named First Gulf Bank on the sale of Riva. The bank gives three letters of indemnity - $40, 50 and 50 each. But there is a problem in the third letter. They are dealing with the problem right now. Arabs want to take an opportunity of clubâ€™s financial problem and dictate their rules.
- We say Galatasaray is ruled badly. Is there going to be a Congress before the appointed time?
Congress needs to be held to select a new leadership. But it is not possible now because there is no promising candidate. Ali Durust, Hayri and other such candidates may be chosen for the team if they occur in March, 2008. Otherwise, Ozhan Janaydin will remain a club president. /APA-Sport/