THE MEMORY OF AHMET ÇALIK ENTRUSTED TO KARATAY

 AN EXAMPLE OF LOYALTY FROM KARATAY

MAYOR HASAN KILCA: THIS CITY NEVER FORGETS

PALUT: THIS PARK IS VERY IMPORTANT TO HONOR AHMET ÇALIK'S MEMORY AND NAME.

 FATIH ÖZGÖKÇEN: KONYA IS A CITY OF LOYALTY

The park, for which construction was completed by Karatay Municipality in Akabe Neighbourhood and named after Ahmet Çalık, who lost his life in a tragic accident, was put into service with a ceremony. There have been emotional moments at the opening of the park, held with substantial participation.  Karatay Mayor Hasan Kılca stated that they are happy to introduce another special and valuable investment to the people of Konya and that they are protecting the memory of Ahmet Çalık. Konyaspor President Fatih Özgökçen underlined that Konya is a city of loyalty and stated that they never forget Ahmet Çalık. Konyaspor Technical Director Ilhan Palut also emphasized that the park, which was brought to Konya by the Karatay Municipality, is crucial in terms of honoring the memory and name of Çalık.

The park, for which the construction was completed by Karatay Municipality in Akabe Neighbourhood and named after Ahmet Çalık, who lost his life in a tragic accident, was put into service with a ceremony.

The opening ceremony, which started by reciting the national anthem, continued with a slide show prepared by Karatay Municipality in memory of Ahmet Çalık. There have been emotional moments at the ceremony, which Ahmet Çalık's parents also attended.

 Hasan Kılca, the Mayor of Karatay, who made the opening speech of the ceremony, said that as Karatay Municipality, they are happy to bring together another investment that is special, valuable, and meaningful in every aspect, with the people of Konya.

KONYA NEVER FORGETS

Kılca, who stated that they are proud to honor the memory of Ahmet Çalık, said the following, “I'm making perhaps the hardest speech I'll ever make in my life right now. On January 11, we lost a gentleman athlete, our son. Ahmet Çalık was a man of strong spirituality with his ethics and faith. He was a loyal brother to his team, who always had goals, who never forgot where he came from, and the coaches who raised him. He was with young talents. He always supported his brothers in the infrastructure. In other words,  he was an athlete dedicated to the whole of Turkey. My condolences to all of us. All fans really took Ahmet into their hearts. Everyone loved him as his own child and grieved his death as if they had lost their own child. We wish that such a beautiful person will never be forgotten and that our future generations will follow Ahmet Çalık as an example. Konya never forgets. We, the Karatay Municipality, had our own responsibilities, and for this purpose, we named this park, which we brought to our Akabe Neighborhood, after our brother Ahmet Çalık. I hereby would like to take this opportunity to thank again our council members who contributed to this decision.

MANY AHMET ÇALIKS WILL GROW UP IN THIS PARK

Stating that they wish many successful young people from Ahmet Çalık Park to grow up, Kılca said: “With its green areas, tartan track surface, Kafe Karatay, basketball court, astroturf, and rest areas, Ahmet Çalık Park will not only serve our district but will also serve our district. Ahmet Çalık Park will not only serve our district, but I hope many Ahmet Çalıks will grow up in this park, which we have equipped with sports complexes and put into the service for our youth. I wholeheartedly believe that".

HASAN KILCA GETS EMOTIONAL WHILE TELLING HIS MEMORY WITH ÇALIK

Hasan Kılca, who shared his memory with Ahmet Çalık, concluded his words as follows; “I watched the Beşiktaş match on December 27 with Ahmet. He was such a big support to his friends outside the field. When Konyaspor scored in the 90th minute, he was so happy that his joy is still in front of my eyes. He was such a nice person who always thought of his friends. Rest in peace. I once again offer my condolences to his family, fans, Konyaspor community, and our country.”

PALUT: THIS PARK IS CRUCIAL IN TERMS OF HONORING THE MEMORY AND NAME OF ÇALIK.

Ilhan Palut, the Football Coach of Konyaspor, who emphasized that Ahmet Çalık is a very valuable football player for Turkish football,  pointed out that the park, which was brought to Konya by the Karatay Municipality, is crucial in terms of honoring the memory and name of Çalık.

Palut stated that as the Konyaspor community, Ahmet Çalık's memory will always be in their hearts. Palut continued as follows: “From the moment I learned that such a park would be opened and I was going to make a speech, I asked Allah to give me the strength to complete this speech. Words fail me, whatever we say will be meaningless. Ahmet was a wonderful son to his parents and a wonderful brother to his older brother. He was a very valuable athlete in Turkish football and more than a brother to his friends. A great helper for those in need.  In short, he was a very valuable person. At the end of all this time, Ahmet's pain is always somewhere in our hearts like the first day. We work, and we go to matches. Sometimes we rejoice, but we do not forget him even for a day. Human memory is programmed to forget, that's how we were created. But we will never forget. This park is very important and valuable for future generations to remember what kind of person he was and what an exemplary athlete he was. My condolences to his grief-stricken parents and loved ones. I would like to express my thanks to our Mayor Hasan Kılca and everyone who contributed to the construction of the park.

FATİH ÖZGÖKÇEN: KONYA IS A CITY OF LOYALTY

Fatih Özgökçen, the President of Konyaspor, started his speech by expressing that he was very impressed by the video prepared about Ahmet Çalık. Palut said that Konya is a city of loyalty and that they never forget Ahmet Çalık.

Drawing attention to Ahmet Çalık's pure-hearted, good-natured, determined, and challenging personality, President Özgökçen stated that after his death, condolences messages were received from big football clubs from all over the world. Özgökçen also stated that the Metropolitan, Karatay, Meram, and Selçuklu municipalities provided resources for infrastructure to Konyaspor with their sports investments and projects, and expressed his satisfaction. He stated that he had no requests from Hasan Kılca, the Mayor of Karatay, for honoring the name of the Konyaspor and Çalık family in the park, but that the name of Ahmet Çalık was given to this park by Mayor Hasan Kılca by showing great kindness, based on the beautiful traces that Ahmet Çalık left while he was alive. President Özgökçen thanked Karatay Mayor Hasan Kılca, who contributed to honoring the name of Çalık.

UZBAŞ: THE INVESTMENT OF OUR KARATAY MUNICIPALITY IS AN EXAMPLE OF LOYALTY

Mustafa Uzbaş, the Deputy Mayor of Konya Metropolitan Municipality, pointed out that the park, gained by Karatay Municipality, is an example of loyalty, and said that Ahmet Çalık was an exemplary character with his attitude and character.

Uzbaş said, “The death of our brother Ahmet as a result of a tragic accident caused sadness both among our sports community and among us. We do not know our brother Ahmet Çalık not only as a successful football player but also as a person who set an example for us with his life and attitude. With this beautiful park realized by our Karatay Municipality, we will always honor the name and memory of our brother Ahmet Çalık. I would like to thank Hasan Kılca, the Mayor of Karatay, who built this park, and those who contributed to it”.

KONYA ADOPTED THE MEMORY OF OUR BROTHER AHMET

Mehmet Baykan, the General Manager of Sports Services, at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, expressed his satisfaction with the park that was opened to honor the name of the late Ahmet Çalık, and said, "All of Turkey adopts the memory of our brother Ahmet."

Mehmet Baykan stated that the Konyaspor community experienced the pain of the valuable athletes and managers they lost in a traffic accident before the death of the late Ahmet Çalık, and expressed his patience and condolences to the families of all of them, especially Ahmet Çalık's family. Stating that not only Konya, but all of Turkey, shared the grief of Ahmet Çalık's esteemed family and protected his memory, Mehmet Baykan thanked Hasan Kılca, the Mayor of Karatay, for honoring Ahmet Çalık's name in a modern park that has just been put into service.

SAMANCI: THIS CITY NEVER FORGETS, AND OUR MAYOR HAS NEVER FORGOTTEN

Gülay Samancı, the AK Party Deputy of Konya thanked him by saying that Hasan Kılca displayed an example of loyalty on behalf of Konya.

Samancı underlined that Ahmet Çalık was an athlete loved by everyone. Gulay Samanci said; “The opening of this park is a bit more painful.  It tears our hearts out. I wish Allah's mercy upon my brother Ahmet Çalık. I wish patience to his parents and siblings. There are moments when words fail. We are living in such a moment today. Our brother Ahmet Çalık has a special place not only with his football but also with his attitude and brotherhood to the youth. He continues to be remembered for his kindness even after his death. This city never forgets. Our Mayor Hasan did not forget either. Konya is a city of loyalty. We will not forget and will not cause to forget. Our children who will receive service from this beautiful park will grow up just like our brother Ahmet Çalık. I would like to thank my Mayor Hasan Kılca very much. He has fulfilled an important example of loyalty for Konya with this park.”

KONYA REMEMBERED OUR BROTHER AHMET WITH GRATITUDE

Mehmet Aydın, Deputy Governor of Konya, who said that a good investment was brought to Konya by Hasan Kılca, stated that Konya remembered Çalık with gratitude and said; “It was a beautiful ceremony because the name is beautiful. Our Mayor Hasan has built a beautiful facility, and what is more, he has given this park a beautiful name as an example of loyalty. I congratulate this park. Thank you to those who contributed. Our brother Ahmet kept the bar high. Now we remember him with gratitude. Our part is to honor his memory  and raise good youth.”

After the speeches, the park was opened by the members of the protocol. Following the opening program of the park, the members of the protocol and Ahmet Çalık's family visited the Kafe Karatay, which was put into service in the park. In addition, halva was distributed to all citizens who attended the opening by Karatay Municipality.

Ahmet Çalık's mother Nurhan Çalık, his father Ali Çalık, Ercan Uslu, the Secretary-General of Metropolitan Municipality, Eflatun Can Tortop, the Selçuklu District Governor, Mustafa Kavuş, the Mayor of Meram, Faruk Ulular, the Deputy Mayor of Selçuklu,  Engin Dinç, the Konya Provincial Police Chief, Ali Öğe, the Provincial Mufti of Konya, Ahmet Demir, the General Manager of the KOSKI, Remzi Karaaslan, the Konya Provincial Head of MHP, Mehmet Genç, the Karatay District Head of the AK Party, Mustafa Hakan Özer, the Selcuklu District Head of the AK Party,  Karatay Civil Administrative Chiefs, headmen, and many citizens attended the opening ceremony of Ahmet Çalık Park, which was brought to Konya by the Karatay Municipality.