Sports
Rising Turkish amputee footballers eye 1st team glory in heat
The future of Turkish amputee football is sharpening its edge, under a punishing summer sun in Sakarya’s Akyazı district
The country’s U23 Amputee National Team has gathered for an intense training camp, aiming to punch above its weight at the upcoming EAFF 2025 Amputee Nations League Championship in Trabzon this September and, most crucially, earn spots on the senior national team bound for the 2026 World Cup in Costa Rica.
With players aged 16 to 23 grinding through double training sessions at Akyazı Stadium, ambition is as thick in the air as the heat.
“We’re the best – and always in the race to stay there”
Head coach Murat Bahar makes no apologies for the sweat and sacrifice. “We’re not just preparing players – we’re building future A-team legends,” he said.
Türkiye is the only country with a professional amputee football league, a massive advantage that allows the nation to churn out elite talent.
“Despite the extreme heat, our players are showing tremendous drive and quality,” Bahar added. “Some will be promoted to the senior squad. That’s the dream and we’re getting closer.”
The camp isn’t just a boot camp; it’s a gateway. Each drill, each drop of sweat brings the players one step closer to Trabzon and maybe, to Costa Rica.
Seven ready to make the senior jump
Camp coordinator Osman Bozanlı confirmed that seven under-23 players are already penciled in for the senior team’s September camp.
“Our mission is to feed the A-team with solid talent,” Bozanlı said. “Most of these players already compete in different leagues. We believe even more will rise through the ranks before the World Cup.”
“It’s not just about making the A-team. It’s about staying there.”
Team captain Eyüp Alparslan, 22, embodies that mindset. With a fiery mix of patriotism and determination, he sees the jersey as more than fabric – it’s a duty.
“We’ll fight for the flag without hesitation. Getting to the senior team is one thing. Staying there is everything,” Alparslan said. “We talk about this all the time – being a national player means being a servant to your country.”
He added, “Some of us can’t serve in the military, so we serve this way. It’s our contribution.”
From TV dream to national call-up
Winger Salih Balli, also 22, will join the senior camp this month after catching the eye of coach İsmail Temiz. His journey started in 2017 when he watched Türkiye’s amputee final on TV.
“It sparked something. By 2018, I was playing,” said Balli, who was introduced to the sport by his physical education teacher.
Even as his feet blister and hands swell from the heat, Balli refuses to slow down. “Soreness doesn’t matter. This is about the flag. We go from 10% to 100% every day. We never stop. It’s a relay and I’m grabbing the baton.”
Fenerbahçe are pulling out all the stops to sign Turkish winger Kerem Aktürkoğlu in what could be one of the summer’s blockbuster transfers, as the club eyes Champions League glory with a reinforced, title-hungry squad.
The 26-year-old former Galatasaray star, now at Benfica, has emerged as Jose Mourinho’s top pick to fortify the left flank ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.
After a standout season in Portugal, Aktürkoğlu fits the bill: electric pace, European experience, and deep Süper Lig roots.
But bringing him home is proving anything but straightforward.
Deal agreed, but Benfica stand firm
Fenerbahçe has reportedly agreed to personal terms with Aktürkoğlu – 4.5-5 million euros ($5.2 million-$5.8 million) per year over four to five years, bonuses included. Yet the real battle lies in Lisbon.
Benfica paid 12 million euros for the winger last September and initially set his release at 60 million euros.
Fenerbahçe countered Benfica’s 30 million euros valuation with a bid closer to 15 million euros.
With Benfica’s Bruma sidelined long-term, and no replacement yet in sight, the Portuguese side is hesitant to part ways.
Fenerbahçe’s delegation, including President Ali Koç and director Hakan Safi, traveled to Portugal over the weekend, hoping to bridge the gap in talks.
Safi met directly with Benfica president Rui Costa, aiming to lower the fee to around 20-25 million euros – a price Benfica may settle on if they sign Feyenoord’s Anis Hadji Moussa.
Conflicting signals from Aktürkoğlu’s camp
While Fenerbahçe is confident in the player’s interest, Turkish outlet Fotomaç reported hesitancy on Aktürkoğlu’s end about returning to the Süper Lig.
Other reports, however, claim he’s fully on board.
This ambiguity is complicating talks just as the clock ticks toward the Champions League deadline. For Fenerbahçe, time is gold.
Galatasaray still in the picture
Galatasaray may not be in the transfer room, but their presence lingers.
The Istanbul giants included a 10% profit clause in Aktürkoğlu’s sale to Benfica. Any deal over 12 million euros ensures a tidy windfall for their archrivals – fueling already fierce tensions.
Beşiktaş has also entered the race, reportedly offering a 25 million euros package and banking on Aktürkoğlu’s friendship with their latest addition, Orkun Kökçü. Still, Fenerbahçe’s aggressive approach gives them a noticeable edge.
Player built for Mourinho’s system
Born in Kocaeli, Aktürkoğlu dazzled for Galatasaray with 46 goals and 42 assists in 179 appearances between 2020 and 2024.
In his first year at Benfica, he stayed hot – 16 goals and 13 assists in 54 matches.
A regular for the national team with 44 caps and 12 goals, his 24 million euro market value speaks volumes.
Mourinho sees him not just as a piece, but a pillar of his attacking setup.
Jets, jitters and transfer deadlines
On Monday, Fenerbahçe reportedly dispatched a private jet to bring Aktürkoğlu to Istanbul, with an arrival time pegged at 5:30 p.m.
A second jet, rumored to be for Benfica midfielder Florentino Luis, was scheduled to land at 8:30 p.m. – evidence of Fenerbahçe’s full-court press.
Yet hours later, Portuguese outlet Record reported Benfica’s reluctance to finalize any sale before their Champions League qualifiers against Nice.
Their management is focused on stability, and Aktürkoğlu’s future remains suspended in the balance.
With big-name signings like Jhon Duran, Archie Brown, Tarık Çetin, Milan Skriniar, and Nelson Semedo already sealed, Aktürkoğlu could be the final flourish in a transformative window.
Turkish dormant giants Beşiktaş will look to steady their spiraling season and secure their first win of the campaign when they face Irish hopefuls St. Patrick’s Athletic on Thursday in the first leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League third qualifying round.
Kickoff is set for 9:45 p.m. local time at Tallaght Stadium in the Irish capital, with Slovenian referee David Smajc in charge.
After crashing out of the Europa League with a 6-2 aggregate drubbing by Shakhtar Donetsk, Beşiktaş now finds itself fighting for continental survival.
Head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is sitting on a hot seat and a fifth straight match without a win could throw his tenure into early doubt.
For Solskjaer’s side, the trip to Dublin isn’t just about turning the tide – it’s about keeping the season from slipping into full-blown crisis.
Injuries and exits cloud
The Black Eagles will take the field without midfielders Mustafa Hekimoğlu and Can Keleş, both nursing injuries.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is also out, still sidelined with a ligament issue.
Orkun Kökçü, who missed the Shakhtar second leg due to a minor injury, is back in training and awaits a decision from Solskjaer.
Meanwhile, the squad has seen a mini-exodus.
Portuguese midfielder Gedson Fernandes joined Spartak Moscow, while young forward Semih Kılıçsoy was loaned to Italy’s Cagliari.
Long-forgotten Kazakh utility man Bakhtiyor Zaynutdinov also departed for Dynamo Moscow.
Jean Onana, omitted from the Europa League roster, has been added to the Conference League squad in Gedson’s place.
However, Emrecan Uzunhan and Oxlade-Chamberlain were left off the UEFA list entirely.
St. Patrick’s Cinderella run
The Saints, aiming for their first-ever group stage appearance in European competition, have scrapped their way through two rounds.
They brushed aside Lithuanian side Hegelmann with a 3-0 aggregate win, but their mettle was tested in the second round against Estonia’s Nomme Kalju. After a 2-1 second-leg defeat forced extra time, St. Pat’s found a dramatic late goal to squeeze through 3-2 on aggregate.
Their domestic form is patchy – they sit sixth in the Irish Premier Division – but they’re unbeaten in their last eight matches in all competitions, including a 2-0 league win over Waterford last weekend.
Striker Mason Melia, who has scored in both qualifying rounds, is expected to lead the line again. However, midfielder Romal Palmer remains out with a hamstring injury.
History at stake
Thursday’s tie marks Beşiktaş’s 255th match in European competition, with a record of 95 wins, 49 draws, and 110 losses. The Black Eagles have scored 340 goals and conceded 390.
They’ll also be stepping into the unknown – it’s their first-ever clash with an Irish side in UEFA competition.
In the Conference League alone, Beşiktaş have played 12 times, winning seven, drawing one, and losing four, with a goal difference of 21-19.
Despite the pedigree, the pressure is real. Beşiktaş fans have not forgotten the team’s historic lows – such as the 8-0 shellacking at the hands of Liverpool in 2007 – or the more recent 5-0 home humiliation against Club Brugge in last year’s Conference League group stage.
Glory days and goalscoring legends
Beşiktaş’s best European runs include quarterfinal appearances in the 1986-87 European Cup, 2002-03 UEFA Cup, and 2016-17 Europa League – the last ending in a heartbreaking penalty shootout loss to Lyon.
Oktay Derelioğlu remains the club’s all-time top scorer in European competitions with 14 goals, followed by Vincent Aboubakar and Cenk Tosun with 13 each. Among the current squad, Rafa Silva (3 goals), Milot Rashica, Salih Uçan, and Joao Mario (2 each) lead the charge.
The return leg will be played in Istanbul next week, where Beşiktaş hopes to be in control of their fate. –
Bengisu Avcı made history before sunset on Sunday, becoming the first Turkish athlete to complete the Ocean’s Seven, the world’s toughest open-water swimming challenge, after conquering Japan’s unforgiving Tsugaru Channel in a dramatic final push.
The 30-year-old ultra-marathon swimmer capped a seven-year journey in epic fashion, finishing the 15-hour swim just minutes before nightfall, narrowly beating the Tsugaru Channel’s strict cutoff time that would have ended her attempt short of the Hokkaido shore.
It was a feat that mixed mental resolve, physical precision and perfect timing against nature’s worst.
Swim against the clock
Avcı began her final Ocean’s Seven crossing at 10:30 p.m. from Japan’s Honshu Island.
The Tsugaru Channel, infamous for its violent currents and shifting tides, is widely considered the most treacherous of the seven channels.
Her plan wasn’t a straight line but a strategic arc, swimming with the currents to her left and hitting the midpoint around 7:00 a.m. after 8.5 hours in the water.
Then came the toughest stretch.
Facing the full force of the current, Avcı was swept nearly 14 kilometers off course, with just 3 kilometers remaining.
Two other swimmers attempting the same route that day had already been forced to abandon their efforts. But Avcı pushed forward, knowing time was running out.
With less than 30 minutes before nightfall – when Tsugaru swimming is prohibited – her team urged her to sprint. Sports psychologist Dr. Seren Akıcı and physiotherapist Aslı Vural shouted from the support boat, helping her keep pace and morale.
She reached the final kilometer in the last 15 minutes and surged forward.
At last, she touched the rocky shores of Hokkaido, hoisted the Turkish flag and made history.
7 seas of endurance
The Ocean’s Seven is a global gauntlet of seven channel swims known for extreme conditions and deadly unpredictability. Since 2008, only a handful of swimmers have ever completed it.
Avcı’s journey began on August 3, 2018, with the English Channel – exactly seven years to the day of her final triumph.
In the years since, she took on and conquered the Catalina Channel (USA), Gibraltar Strait (Spain-Morocco), Cook Strait (New Zealand), Molokai Channel (Hawaii), and North Channel (Ireland-Scotland), each bringing its own physical and psychological torment.
With the Tsugaru Channel complete, Avcı joins the elite few who have mastered all seven.
Swimming with purpose
But Avcı’s mission wasn’t just athletic.
In partnership with AXA Türkiye, she used her swims as a platform for climate advocacy.
Under the motto “Why should the future be a risk?”, Avcı championed awareness about climate change and ocean sustainability, framing each crossing as a metaphor for the urgent environmental battles humanity faces.
Her record-setting swim becomes more than a sporting milestone – it becomes a call to action.
With their Champions League aspirations hanging by a thread, Fenerbahçe prepare to host Dutch powerhouse Feyenoord in a pivotal third-round qualifying tie that could define the club’s European fate and intensify the spotlight on head coach Jose Mourinho.
The first leg kicks off Wednesday night at the iconic De Kuip in Rotterdam, while the return leg is set for Aug. 12 at the Chobani Stadium in Istanbul.
The winner of this two-legged clash will face either Club Brugge or Red Bull Salzburg in the playoff round for a place in the Champions League league phase, an elusive stage Fenerbahçe hasn’t reached in over a decade.
This tie pits two sides rich in continental pedigree but desperate to restore their standing among Europe’s elite.
Fenerbahçe, still smarting from a trophyless 2024-25 season, finished a distant second behind archrivals Galatasaray and stumbled out of both the Champions League and Europa League in the early rounds.
Their third-round elimination to Lille last summer, followed by a penalty shootout loss to Rangers in the Europa League knockouts, added to growing discontent in Kadıköy.
Yet under Mourinho, now entering his second season at the helm, there’s renewed belief.
Fenerbahçe’s preseason tour of Portugal featured three straight wins, including a commanding 4-0 demolition of Al-Ittihad.
A narrow 2-1 defeat to Benfica interrupted their momentum, but they bounced back with a confidence-lifting 1-0 win over Lazio in their final tune-up.
The squad may be evolving, but the resolve seems stronger.
Much of that evolution has been driven by Mourinho himself.
Determined to mold the team into his vision, he oversaw several key acquisitions over the summer.
Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran, Leicester full-back Archie Brown, and Wolverhampton right-back Nelson Semedo were all brought in to add steel and flair.
All three are expected to make their competitive debuts against Feyenoord. Duran offers a dynamic presence up front, while Semedo brings defensive assurance and Champions League experience to the backline.
However, injuries continue to complicate Mourinho’s plans. Brazilian center-back Rodrigo Becao remains sidelined with a long-term ACL injury and will miss both legs.
Midfielders Mert Hakan Yandaş and Anderson Talisca are also unavailable due to ongoing recovery programs, limiting the Portuguese manager’s options in the center of the park.
Meanwhile, several players deemed surplus to requirements – including Cengiz Ünder, Miha Zajc, Lincoln, and Emre Mor – have been frozen out, further thinning squad depth.
Off the pitch, Fenerbahçe remain active in the transfer market.
Talks with Inter Milan over Hakan Çalhanoğlu have stalled, but negotiations continue with Benfica for Turkish international Kerem Aktürkoğlu.
The winger’s potential arrival, expected to cost between 20-25 million euros ($23 million-$29 million), could bolster the left flank, though he won’t feature in the first leg.
Lethal strategies
Mourinho is expected to stick with a pragmatic 4-2-3-1 formation, built on structure and counter-attacks.
Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic anchors the goal, while the defensive unit is likely to include Semedo and Milan Skriniar.
In midfield, Brazilian veteran Fred could partner with Dominik Szoboszlai to offer a blend of grit and creativity. Up front, Serbian playmaker Dusan Tadic and Polish attacker Sebastian Szymański will provide service from the flanks.
Though Edin Dzeko was last season’s top scorer, the veteran striker is no longer part of the squad, leaving the center-forward role up for grabs between Duran and Ryan Kent.
Across the touchline, Feyenoord arrive with their own ambitions – and a rising star in the dugout.
Former Dutch international Robin van Persie took over in January 2025 and sparked an immediate transformation.
The team finished third in the Eredivisie and reached the Champions League Round of 16, falling only to Bayern Munich.
Under Van Persie, Feyenoord recorded 22 points and a +18 goal difference in his first eight matches – a remarkable start unmatched in the club’s recent history.
Still, the summer has brought change.
Winger Igor Paixao was sold to Marseille, midfielder Ramiz Zerrouki returned to Twente on loan, and defensive stalwart David Hancko joined Atletico Madrid.
Their departures left holes that Van Persie sought to fill with younger, hungrier talent. Sem Steijn, Luciano Valente, Gaoussou Diarra, Jordan Bos, and Casper Tengstedt have all joined, with Tengstedt in particular drawing attention after scoring seven goals on loan at Hellas Verona last season.
The Dutch side’s preseason was a mixed bag. A win, a draw, and a disrupted match against Wolfsburg – which was abandoned in the 84th minute due to a medical emergency with Feyenoord leading 4-0 – offered glimpses of attacking intent, but also signs of defensive vulnerability.
Van Persie is expected to continue with his favored 4-3-3 setup.
Timon Wellenreuther has earned the nod in goal ahead of Justin Bijlow, whose match fitness remains a concern.
Team captain Quinten Timber is back from a knee injury and will likely control the midfield alongside Valente and creative hub Calvin Stengs.
Up front, Ayase Ueda is tipped to lead the line, though Tengstedt may feature as a substitute. On the wings, Santiago Giménez and promising wide man Anis Hadji Moussa will look to stretch Fenerbahçe’s flanks and expose defensive gaps.
The head-to-head record slightly favors the Turkish giants. In their most recent meetings during the 2016-17 Europa League group stage, Fenerbahçe won both ties, including a stunning 4-0 away victory in Rotterdam. Feyenoord will be desperate to rewrite that script.
The tactical chess match promises to be fascinating. Van Persie’s pressing game and fast transitions could unsettle Fenerbahçe, but it also opens spaces that Mourinho’s counter-attacks thrive on.
Much could hinge on midfield control – where Timber’s vision will be tested by Fred’s physicality – and on whether Feyenoord’s new-look defense can hold firm against Fenerbahçe’s relentless attacking pressure.
For Fenerbahçe, this tie isn’t just about prestige. It’s about validation. Mourinho was hired to restore the club’s European relevance.
Failing to reach the Champions League group stage again would not only sting the fans, but potentially raise questions about the direction of the project.
For Feyenoord, it’s a statement opportunity. Under Van Persie, they’ve taken steps forward. Progressing to the playoff round would affirm that their resurgence is more than just a brief uptick.
Lewis Hamilton’s turbulent weekend in Hungary ended with more questions than answers and a firm promise that he’ll be back.
A day after calling himself “useless” and suggesting Ferrari should “find another driver,” the seven-time Formula One world champion finished a dismal 12th at the Hungarian Grand Prix – a race he’s won a record eight times.
Instead of redemption, Hamilton was lapped and stuck battling in the midfield, nowhere near the form expected from one of the sport’s all-time greats.
“Hopefully, I’ll be back,” Hamilton said tersely post-race, speaking to reporters with short, downbeat replies. “I look forward to coming back.”
The 40-year-old’s sharp self-criticism on Saturday – after being knocked out in Q2 and missing the final round of qualifying – raised eyebrows across the paddock. “It’s me every time. I’m useless. Absolutely useless,” Hamilton told reporters, sounding like a man in crisis. He even floated the idea that Ferrari might want to replace him.
But those closest to him – both past and present – rushed to his defense.
“He’s frustrated, but not demotivated,” Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur said. “He’s demanding of himself, and that’s exactly why he’s a seven-time world champion.”
Hamilton’s teammate, Charles Leclerc, took pole but couldn’t convert it to a win, finishing fourth after facing mechanical issues.
Despite the result, Leclerc threw his support behind Hamilton.
“It’s been a tough weekend for Lewis, but we’re one team,” Leclerc said. “I have no doubt this is just a one-off. The second half of the season will be stronger.”
Vasseur acknowledged the fine margins that made Hamilton’s weekend appear worse than it was: “He was in front of Charles in Q1, and just a tenth off in Q2. With such close times, both cars could have missed Q3.”
Hamilton’s former Mercedes boss, Toto Wolff, also chimed in. “It was Lewis wearing his heart on his sleeve,” he said. “He’s always been emotionally transparent. He’s the GOAT, and nothing will change that.”
Wolff emphasized that Hamilton, still chasing a record eighth title after the controversial 2021 finale, has unfinished business in F1 – especially with new regulations and car designs coming in 2026.
“He shouldn’t go anywhere next year,” Wolff said. “There’s more to come.”
As speculation about Hamilton’s future swirls, one thing is certain: he’s not done yet. “I need a break from work,” Hamilton said, before heading into the summer shutdown. The next test? The Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, closing out August.
Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min played his final match for the club before a packed crowd of 64,773 at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Sunday.
His teammate James Maddison was forced off with a knee injury during the game.
At 33, Son – contracted through 2026 – is expected to depart Spurs after a decade of service. He famously led the team to their first trophy in 17 years with the Europa League triumph over Manchester United last May.
The friendly against Newcastle United ended in a 1-1 draw. Spurs’ Brennan Johnson opened the scoring in the fourth minute, only for Newcastle’s Harvey Barnes to equalize in the 38th. Son was substituted in the 65th minute, making way for new signing Mohammed Kudus.
Son received a guard of honor from both Spurs and Newcastle players, along with a warm ovation from the crowd, as he bade a teary farewell. He is expected to stay in South Korea while the rest of the Spurs players fly to London.
“At first, I really didn’t think I was going to cry. But obviously, it is not easy leaving a team I’ve spent so much time with,” Son said.
“And hearing from all these players made me really emotional. I’ve had an unforgettable day thanks to all the fans, my teammates and my opponents. I feel so happy that I don’t think I will be able to sleep tonight.
“My career is not over yet, and I want to continue to bring [the fans] joy. I know I have more things I want to accomplish as a football player.”
Son joined the north London club from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015. Though he did not disclose his next destination, British media have linked him with a move to Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC.
“Unbelievable scenes for Son from his teammates and the respect from the Newcastle players,” Spurs manager Thomas Frank said.
“First we had the walkaround and then the teammates gathered around and he was emotional. In the changing room it was more of the same… It was beautiful.”
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said, “The reaction was instinctive from my players. It’s not just his talent but the way he has carried himself over the years. I think he’s seen as one of the game’s great Premier League players.”
Maddison came on in the 75th minute but went down off the ball, clutching his knee, and appeared to be in considerable discomfort. The 28-year-old England international was taken off on a stretcher around the 86th minute.
“We’re pretty sure it was the same knee he injured before. I think sometimes in life and football things can be both beautiful and brutal,” Frank said.
Maddison suffered an injury to the same knee in May and missed the final part of last season.
The club later announced the loan signing of midfielder Joao Palhinha from Fulham. The 30-year-old, who previously played in the Premier League for Fulham, joins until the end of next season with an option to make the move permanent.
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