Turkey captain's senior service
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
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Turkey Under-17 captain Abdülkadir Kayalı is not alone in having gained Süper Lig experience and is convinced the hosts have the ability to claim the title next Friday.
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Süper Lig bow
Being excused qualifying for this tournament meant that Sunday's 3-0 defeat of the Netherlands was these players' first competitive international, but it is a different matter in the Turkish Süper Lig. In August striker Batuhan Karadeniz became the top-flight's youngest-ever debutant at 16 years and 115 days when he played for Beşiktaş JK – and took a similar record for goalscoring a week later. Last month midfielder Abdülkadir Kayalı took the field for MKE Ankaragücü against Kasımpaşa SK.
Importance
Abdülkadir, who captains Turkey, showed why he was given that chance with a performance in the style of idol Steven Gerrard against the Netherlands in a match he had been waiting for after two years of friendlies under Şenol Ustaömer. "It is a UEFA tournament, all European football lovers are able to watch," Abdülkadir told uefa.com. "I am sure both television and the press give this tournament importance. No doubt it is a big advantage to be the host country. The conditions are just right. I think all the players are happy to be here."
City chance
Of course, he is still on a high at his senior top-flight experience. "Of course that's a big thing for me that I am proud of," Abdülkadir said. "Actually, I played well in that game. However, I conceded a penalty which Kasımpaşa then scored." His club bow could even have come for Manchester City FC, having had a trial in England last year. "I played very well in a game in Ireland," he explained. "Manchester City scouts were watching and then asked me if I want to play in England. I stayed there for one week, the club showed me the training centre and the house that I would have lived in but in the end the transfer didn't happen. I was under 16 at the time, and that was a problem."
Championship hope
Still, he could make his mark in Europe by receiving the U17 trophy on Friday week and Abdülkadir is confident it could happen. "Our aim is to lift the cup," he said. "Each team has the ability, but we have the talent to be the champions. Our team has won friendly tournaments already. There is no team here who we have not previously been able to beat."