Menaf Kıyanç: "I Love This Club, I Am Not Running"

A plaque ceremony was organized for Muğlaspor President Menaf Kıyanç, board members, and club staff at the Konakaltı İskender Alper Cultural Center in the Menteşe district by the 1967 Muğlaspor Supporters Association. At the ceremony, Kıyanç and his management were thanked for their efforts for the club.

Muğlaspor President Menaf Kıyanç stated at the ceremony that the green-white club is going to the general assembly without debt, saying, "Muğlaspor became champion three years in a row. It also has an incredible championship financially. Muğlaspor is going to the general assembly without debt. There is no example of this currently in Turkey," he said.

"I Have Closed This Issue"

Kıyanç had recently stated at the Muğlaspor Club building that he was 99% unlikely to be a candidate in the general assembly. After a meeting with the Muğla protocol at the beginning of the week and further evaluations, Menaf Kıyanç firmly affirmed that he will not be a candidate for the sake of Muğlaspor's welfare.

Kıyanç used the following expressions:

"When we said 99% we will not be candidates, we meant this: we gave 1% possibility out of respect for this community, bureaucracy, our esteemed governor, and members of parliament. The easy way was to say we are not candidates and leave. No, I insistently say now that this city must own the team, and the people living in this city must support their team. I said at the meeting that I am 100% not a candidate. I have closed this issue. I love this club. I am not running. I want this club to go to better places, that's why I am not running. I don't care who will come to this club. I leave all my receivables to the club."

Menaf Kıyanç emphasized the importance of his decision not to run for the future of Muğlaspor, continuing:

"Some people took it personally when I said I am 99% not a candidate. If Menaf Kıyanç and the management continue as Muğlaspor president, Muğlaspor loses. Very clearly and obviously loses. It misses a historic opportunity. After some time, Muğlaspor becomes the team of Menaf Kıyanç and the management. This needs to be changed."

"We Talked with Göztepe"

Kıyanç stated that they held cooperation talks with Göztepe for Muğlaspor and that they continue to work until the last moment for the club.

Kıyanç said, "We went to İzmir to see what we can do for Muğlaspor. Similarly, we discussed with our Youth and Sports Provincial Directorate to fix the stadium deficiencies. If I love Muğlaspor and my management loves Muğlaspor, during our stay here, we must do what needs to be done until the last second," he said.

Giving information about the talks with Göztepe, Kıyanç said, "We went to İzmir to see what kind of cooperation could be established between Muğlaspor and Göztepe. After listening to Göztepe's owning company's partner, we heard with a much louder voice how much those doing this job outside are appreciated and how big Muğlaspor's brand value is."

"Muğlaspor Is the Team of 48"

Pointing out that Muğlaspor is no longer just a football team, Kıyanç said the green-white club has become a common value for Muğla.

Kıyanç said, "Muğlaspor is now the team of 48. This matter is settled. Now it is the city's common value. Muğlaspor has ceased to be a football team. Muğlaspor is the biggest civil society organization of this city. Cities have common values. They are an element or a reason that bring the city together. This is exactly the opportunity."

Drawing attention to the support of the fans during the Bursa away game, Kıyanç said, "You cannot transport 6,500 people in Muğla at the crack of dawn on Sunday to Bursa for 9 hours. They watched the match for 3 hours, then set off again and returned to Muğla the next day. This success must be recognized. There has never been such a thing in Muğla's history," he said.

"I Paid My Debt to This City"

Muğlaspor President Menaf Kıyanç stated that everyone living and earning in Muğla has a responsibility to the city and called on businesspeople to support.

Kıyanç said in his statement:

"Everyone living and earning in this city is responsible to this city and must pay their debt to it. We need to change some things now. We had a meeting with the protocol. It is something that does not exist in Turkey. There is a great image of unity and solidarity. Our rival team's Chamber of Commerce and Industry is giving 28 million to the team on its own will. Yet the businessmen doing commerce here and ranking in Turkey don't even give 1 lira."

Kıyanç also called on individuals and institutions investing in Muğla, saying, "If you are erecting wind turbines, operating brands, and plundering every part of the city, destroying nature, you are obligated to support Muğlaspor or something else related to this city. Because of our unity with the municipality, people complained about me to Istanbul. These people have no conscience," he said.

Reporter: Aziz Şahin