Atatürk's signature at the Fenerbahçe club...

It was May 3, 1918.

Two people were walking on the road to Moda Kuşdilli. One was the Hero of Gallipoli, Mustafa Kemal Pasha, and the other was the former President of the Fenerbahçe Club, Mehmet Sabri Toprak.

Mehmet Sabri Bey and Mustafa Kemal were close friends.

Mustafa Kemal Pasha was suffering from his left kidney. It was aching as he walked. He was going to travel abroad to Karlsbad for treatment. From time to time, he would hold his left kidney with his hand.

Together with President Mehmet Sabri Toprak, they arrived at the Kuşdili Meadow. Next to the meadow was the Fenerbahçe Sports Club and its clubhouse.

Mehmet Sabri Bey had informed the authorities that Mustafa Kemal Pasha would be visiting the club. That is why the Fenerbahçe members were waiting for them. They went to the clubhouse, first had a coffee to relieve their fatigue, and then, together with Dr. Hamit Hüsnü and Elkatipzade Mustafa Bey, they toured the section on the second floor where the trophies were kept.

Afterward, Elkatipzade Mustafa Bey handed him the club's guestbook, and Mustafa Kemal Pasha wrote in the book:

"Having heard of the work of the Fenerbahçe Club, which is liked and appreciated by everyone, I made it my duty to visit and congratulate this club. This duty could only be fulfilled today. I am proud to record here that I appreciate and congratulate your successes. 3.5.1918

Army Commander Mustafa Kemal”

And he did not forget to sign it.

After the book was signed, Mustafa Kemal Pasha was offered lemonade at the club, and he left the club after staying for about two hours.

He had wished them success as he left.

The family of Club President Mehmet Sabri Bey, a close friend of Mustafa Kemal Pasha, had migrated from the Balkans to Anatolia after the Ottoman-Russian War of 1877-1878.

Now it is being sold off plot by plot, but in that era, everyone was concerned for the homeland. Mehmet Sabri Bey served as the president of the Fenerbahçe Club in 1915-1916 and 1923-1924. During the five-year occupation period, Fenerbahçe played 50 matches against enemy teams and won 41 of them. The matches they won became a great source of morale for Turkish soldiers during the long and arduous Battle of Sakarya.

Furthermore, because the Fenerbahçe Club's Kuşdili clubhouse was at the mouth of a stream opening to the sea, a large amount of supplies, weapons, and ammunition were secretly sent from there to Anatolia for the War of Independence. When this situation was discovered by the British, the clubhouse was raided and the club was closed.

Of course, one must not forget Galatasaray either.

We were suffering so many martyrs in the Gallipoli campaign that high school students were also participating in this war. Just as high school students from all over Anatolia joined with their classes, students from Galatasaray High School also participated. The Captain, who saw the baby-faced Galatasaray High School students arriving at the front in groups, was surprised; he could not help but ask, "My children, who are you, why did you come?" Because they were still considered children. When the students said, "We came to die for the homeland," the captain could not hold back his tears and wept.

These heroes entered the command of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk on the fronts, fought with him, and became one with him.

The Arabs, on the other hand, entered the command of the British in that war.

And they lost.

Now I ask,

Those who manage Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray did not bow down to the British, who possessed the world's most advanced technological weapons, so are they going to bow down to a few penniless Arabs?

It is impossible.

They are challenging the world.

Because Atatürk's signature is in the history of these clubs.