Elazığ

Before going to Elazığ, I wouldn’t have known that the 22th day of November would be a day going down into history of Turkey as well as the World…   But, I went and received my reward when witnessing such a historical event.

This was the first time I have ever gone to Elazığ. Elazığspor was founded in 1967. It has the same age with Trabzon but the fact that they have joined the Super League just this year is upsetting in terms of being an indication that none of the Anatolian teams have approached the level of Trabzon.  Since it was my first visit to Elazığ, I had done a preliminary investigation. I got to know that Elazığ has a higher rate of literacy, and the most developed medical infrastructure. It is even one of the places where an accent to Istanbulite accent is spoken. I could not test the school but I can say that the information about the accent is true; everybody was speaking fluently.

I have received a positive reference on health from one of my dear friends who took risk of having his sky squeezed here. Iggg? Oh yes, the health does not always mean diet, little lady! I have nothing to say to the gentlemen, you are welcome.

What was I saying? Since only at mornings there is flight to Elazığ from Atatürk Airport of İstanbul, I woke up at 5:30 a.m with sleepy eyes and got on the plane at 6:55 a.m. There were some fans in the plane but I preferred to sleep rather than have a chat with them during the flight which took one and a half hour. This did not suffice, I slept again after I get off the plane and went to the hotel since it was cloudy and then rainy. That’s why; I could not find time to visit Harput and Keban Dam and eat salmon trout since they were not close to the town. Instead, I ate the fish at the hotel. However, I have to confess that I was not satisfied with the delicacy of the meal. Nobody should have doubt about that I will effort to change this idea of mine.

I would like to share with you this sweety signboard in the shopping center I went after dinner at hotel where I pass through.

Whereas we begin with the photographs, let me share this photograph I tok at the main gate of the hotel so that the saying “Anatolian support Galatasaray” shapes in flesh and bones.

We went to the Elazığ Atatürk Stadium before the time of the match. Although the stadium with a capacity of 13,923 persons seems to be sufficient for a team recently join to the super league, they have many things to do.  The photograph below was taken from the place where I sit at the protocol. How is it? The landscape which I can view is wonderful, isn’t it?

Anyway, our team began playing with our ideal team except Selçuk, the suspended footballer but we continue to view the match, tearing our hair out.

We were thinking that the match is about to over, the referee Özgür Yankaya showed red card to our goalkeeper Muslera and gave penalty to the opposing team. I was far from the position and could not see, and did not see on Tv, therefore I cannot a healthy comment if it was penalty or not. The problem was not if the decision was right or wrong but what would be then. Since we had used our right to substitute 3 players, one of the players had to go in goal. We did not have a Pancu to transform into Elazığ panther in the end of the match. While we were asking each other “who can go in goal?”, Melo wore gloves and went in goal.

Ceyhun Gülselam and Hamit Altıntop who were not included in 18-players team were sitting just in front of me at the tribune. Ceyhun turned to me and said ‘Melo will save the penalty’. I found this as extremely optimistic but I was praying ‘I hope this become true and Göktuğ shoot out’. (I did not say Göktuğ that moment, I heard the player’s name later on). While we have our hearts in our boots, Melo was as if growing taller and saving the penalty. I can’t remember anything anymore, that’s what it was. I cannot remember how the match was over, if it was over, who won or what happened. We forgot that we were at the away game and turned the tribune into a fair ground. The fans of Elazığ kept their mouths shut against our crazy mood, because of a state of shock they were in, I guess. We won the match 1-0 but we were also exhausted.

There was a throng, that’s what it was. The fans were about to squeeze the players, technical team while trying to receive signature from or take a photo with the players.  They may be right; they were seeing the first time the players of the team they love, it was valuable to touch them just once but the they forgot that the players, who run about 10 km during 90 minutes and were very tired. Informal hugs, kisses, pull-offs without any asking… I request you to receive permission before taking photo, and do not smack. 

Having the ticket signed, which I started when returning from the match with Cluj, has been more significant upon including the owner of the signature into the frame. Don’t you think so?... J