Nea Salamis Famagusta FC - Turkish Cypriot

Turkish Cypriot

Since its founding, Nea Salamina sought to develop friendly relations with the Turkish Cypriots community in Famagusta. An important element was the admission of the Turkish Cypriots to the team. In the early 1950s several Turkish Cypriots footballers i.e. Siekkeris, Nita, Moustafa etc. joined the team of Nea Salamis. When the team joined the CFA, they struggled for two seasons in the Second Division and had as rivals Turkish Cypriot clubs (e.g. Demir Sports, Kenslik Kiounslou, Turkish Club of Famagusta). When the Turkish Cypriot clubs in late 1955 started to withdraw from the tournaments of CFA, Nea Salamina made efforts to convince them to continue. Despite the withdrawal of Turkish Cypriot clubs from the CFA, the Turkish players remained welcome in Nea Salamina. In 1962 Kallikas was transferred to Nea Salamis and in 1970 Neziak who was of Turkish origin was transferred to the club. In 2004 Turkish Cypriots Imam and Oulousoi were transferred to Nea Salamis; by their presence at Nea Salamis these two players became the first Turkish Cypriotic footballers who took part in the championships of CAF in thirty years.

On March 26, 2005 Nea Salamina played a friendly football match against the Turkish Cypriot Yeni Mosque (within the transcription Oulousoi), at Ammochostos Stadium, beating them with 6–0. It was the first match between a Greek Cypriot and a Turkish Cypriot club after 50 years. 2500 fans attended the match who sat together in the stands sending a message of peace. The football match was attended by representatives of the political leadership of both communities, local and sports authorities and the Church.

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