Founded within Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality, the Women’s Football Team has made a strong start to the 3rd League, aiming to transform the male-dominated field of football and strengthen the success of women athletes.

Established under the Department of Youth and Sports Services, the Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality Women’s Football Team has begun competing in the Turkish Women’s 3rd League. In their first match, the team defeated Silvanspor 4-0, marking an ambitious start to the league.

By bringing a women’s perspective into the male-dominated arena of football, the Women’s Football Team seeks to create transformation in sport, while also pursuing the championship with determination. Alongside their performance on the pitch, the players are striving to strengthen women’s place in football and to provide leadership.

The Women’s Football Team began training one and a half months ago and carries out its sessions at the football field located in Karaköprü (Fidanlık) Social Life Park and Recreation Area. Most of the players in the team, aged between 14 and 19, are also students at sports high schools.

The coach and the players shared their views on their training and objectives.

‘We Are Also Working on Youth Development’

Team Coach Hazal Kaydu stated that training had begun one and a half months ago and that the team was made up of young people aged between 14 and 19. She added that alongside competing in the 3rd League, they were also focusing on youth development: “Our first match was against Silvanspor, and we won 4-0. We are focusing not only on success in sporting terms but also on strengthening the women’s perspective. The team was actually founded last year, but with the reinstatement of our municipalities we set up this team with two coaches. The players go to school in the mornings and start training with us in the afternoons.”

‘There Is a Prejudice Against Women in the Sporting Community’

Kaydu explained that the players were talented and had been discovered through school teams: “We brought the team together thanks to the athletes we knew. We continued by meeting with each of them individually and holding discussions.” She emphasised that there is prejudice against women in the sporting community, particularly that a gendered perspective dominates in football: “In fact, alongside sporting success, we are striving to demonstrate the strength of women and to ensure their visibility in every field.”

‘Women’s Presence in Football Will Change Many Things’

Emphasising that women’s presence in football would change many things, Kaydu continued: “Men are also beginning to realise this; we have often demonstrated women’s approach to sport, their mentality, and the image that they can achieve even greater success. Everyone knows and sees this. Sport is not a field exclusive to men, and they themselves can see that women are advancing in this area and achieving many successes.”

‘We Came Here with the Ambition of Winning the Championship’

One of the team’s players, 14-year-old Tuana Tanış, said that she started football at a young age thanks to her secondary school teacher. She explained that, upon the recommendation of her coaches, she joined the Metropolitan Municipality team: “Here we are trying to bring women’s football more to the forefront. We came here with the ambition of winning the championship. Until now, men have always been at the forefront in football. We are trying to show that women can also play.”

‘We Can Make Football Better’

Tanış said that the training sessions had been going very well and stressed that they aimed to eliminate prejudice against women in sport. “I think we can make football better, we can do greater things,” she said, adding that they wanted to prove this ambition. Tanış continued: “We will be champions, we are sure of it, we are working and striving. We are confident that we will win.”

‘I Was Not Selected 3–4 Times, But I Did Not Give Up’

Another player, 14-year-old Nida Durmuş, said that she had been playing football for four years, starting her sporting journey with futsal. She explained that she received great support from her family and coaches when she began football: “I started football with the school team. At first, I was not selected 3–4 times, but I did not give up, and in the end I was accepted. My coaches have contributed a great deal to me.”

‘We Will Prove Ourselves to Those Who Say “You Cannot Do It”’

Durmuş said that she went to Istanbul for the national team selections, that she was eliminated in the first round, but that she did not give up and was confident she would be called again. She added: “We will prove our success to those who say ‘you cannot do it’ and we will stand against injustice. We want to represent both our city and our country in football. I believe we will represent Diyarbakır in the best way.”