Antwerp Galatasaray fans dream of great success with Dries Mertens: “He is the icing on our cake” (Antwerp)
Galatasaray supporters breathed a sigh of relief last weekend. Their beloved club won 0-1 on the first day of play against Antalyaspor, an all but easy one against Antalya. “And that’s just the beginning. Just wait until Dries is on the field”, smile Ali (34) and Hakan Tek (23).
The cousins, born and raised on the Kiel, are delighted with the arrival of the Red Devil. “With Ciro between the lines, success is guaranteed. He may be 35, but Mertens is far from worn out. There is no doubt that he will reach the same star status in Istanbul as Didier Drogba and Wesley Sneijder a few seasons ago,” said Ali.
Hakan is also eager to see Mertens join the outfit of the Aslanlar. “The arrival of the Belgian is in any case a quality injection for our team. He will reward us with wonderful goals and assists Galatasaray will be there this season, date no doubt.”
Large following in Antwerp
If the Tek family is right, get ready for great powers. Many Galatasaray supporters live in the city of biscuits. “Especially on the Kiel and on the South, the club is followed with a magnifying glass. There is no real community of supporters, but when a match is broadcast, we know where to find each other. Thanks to our recent successes, the number of supporters has grown significantly in recent years,” said Hakan.
Cim Bom Bom does not only live within the Turkish community, as it turns out. “Moroccan and Algerian stars in our team ensure that people from those circles also get sympathy for our club, and that’s great. The more souls, the more joy,” laughs Ali.
“But it will never be the same for them as it is for us. We were almost literally born in a shirt from Gala. The club love with us is passed on from generation to generation. When someone in our family has a baby, it is also the first gift we give. This is how you start from the starting point for a good life.”
Life by and for the club
Our lives are actually largely dominated by Galatasaray. When we win, it boosts our motivation in all areas. If we lose, it’s a fall, especially when it comes to games against Fenerbache. They are on life and death.”
According to Ali, Galatasaray owes it to his status to win twice this season against the eternal city rival. “Turkey will celebrate 100 years of independence in 2023. All teams are history than ever to win the national title. We are the record champion, and we would like to add another title this year.”
“If it comes to that, Antwerp will shake to its foundations. The Grote Markt will turn red-orange that day, rest assured. And if Driesje scores the decisive goal, the Antwerp residents will experience a lot.” (lava)