‘We are here’: Kurdish club Amedspor shakes up Turkish football
Summary
Amedspor, a club that has become a symbol of Kurdish identity in Turkey, is second in the Super Lig after 10 matches in its first top-flight season. The article attributes its strong start to its coach, players, large home crowds and a more favorable political climate amid a peace process between the Turkish government and the PKK.Key Facts
- Amedspor was formed in 1972 and spent much of its history in Turkey’s lower leagues.
- The club adopted the name Amed, a Kurdish name for Diyarbakir, in 2014.
- Amedspor faced fines, supporter bans and other hostility during years of conflict in Turkey’s southeast.
- After successive promotions, Amedspor reached the Super Lig for the first time.
- The team is second in the league after 10 games and could move to first with a win over league leaders Galatasaray.
- Nigerian striker Gift Orban has scored nine goals in 10 games.
- Amedspor have won all six of their home games, with crowds exceeding 30,000.
- A Kurdish Studies Center study published in March 2026 found the club’s support among Kurdish adults in Turkey had quadrupled to four million over four years.
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