| 1st Translation WE WILL GET ALL CUPS Firstly I want to say that RIP for Tayfun G�ndo�ar who was the earlier chairman of the Istanbulspor Club. I was excited while I was playing in Ali Sami Yen stadium and I felt like the footballer who wore the GALATASARAY form first time. I felt too lucky for getting the chance in front of the world's greatest supporters . I believe this is a lot belongs to a few of us. GALATASARAY with Fatih Terim who is emraced and called as emporer by the supporters , have the power to get all the cups this year. Last year,before living GALATASARAY I said that '' Our aims are so great that nobody can imagine.'' . And this year aim is expanding and I say '' I claim we will win two cups at least in Europe''. Because, while I was in Milan, I saw GALATASARAY's power in Europe , I compare GALATASARAY and Europian teams. Be sure that our club is more elit and great than the others in Europe. WE won the Samsunspor club and got three points comfortly and now we are on the top of the league . I hope we will still here the next sesion. I think that we made glad our supporters with both of our football and gols. I started to my internet activities again. I will write my articles regularly as it happened ago. I am planning a assembly of fans next week. I will try to contact with you as good as I can do. As I get my new laptop I will try to reply your e-mails again. See you in next week. �mit Davala. -- 2nd translation Here's a free translation of �mitDavala's article at his website: In the first paragraph he extend his sincere condolences due to Tayfun G�ndogar's death, who was the former president of Istanbulspor. �mit says, he was so sorry about that, so he even couldn't be feel happy of the win over Samsunspor, but he also knows that life goes on and we have to clutch at it. Then he says, how excited he was to be on the pitch of Ali Sami Yen again like he was a 'newcomer', and how happy and lucky he is to be at Galatasaray, in front of the greatest supporters of the world again. :) Later on, �mit claims that Galatasaray's target with Fatih Terim's management is to win the two trophies in Europe this season (and, we, all Galatasaray supporters believe that:). �mit states, that we started the season as the leaders of the Turkish league and hopefully we'll be still there at the end of the season. Finally he says that as o�f the beginning of the new season his website will be more active... there will be a new forum and a meeting with his fans. He promises to be more 'interactive' as soon as he will get his new laptop computer. |
| Article from Umit's Webpage, from Umit to his Fans, 2 Translations 8/12/2002: |
| Interview of Umit: |
| UMIT DAVALA MEMORIAL The statue that was made to honor Umit Davala has been shown to the people of Afyon yesterday with a ceremony. Also a sports stadium in Afyon has been named after Umit Davala in hope that more Umit Davala's will be born. Today Galatasaray will show their new three star uniforms to the public at Reina. Models like Asuman Krause, Yuksel Ak Ipek and Sinem Oztufan will be attending along with the Galatasarat and Olympia players. Olympia who will be playing against Galatasaray in an opening match tomorrow have arrived in Istanbul. There are sayings that the Greek Olympia want frienship between the two countries. Galatasaray's Umit Karan's form is getting better. He think that he is 80 percent fit and thinks that he will be ready to play tomorrow. Galatasaray's Brazilian player Felipe has started to attend Turkish lessons so he can get along with the team easier. After returning from camp in Sweden Galatasaray havent done any training so todays training will be first and only training before they calsh with Olympia tomorrow. Glatasaray's goalkeeper Mondragon and Ergun are apparently ver good friends and that Mondragon see the team as his family. After winning there 15th league last year Galatasaray have brought out a new air conditioner. The air conditioner is red and yellow and will be shown to the public on Thursday. |
| I WONT FORGIVE BETRAYAL Ebru Destan asked Umit Davala answered Galatasaray's Umit said, " I give a lot of imporatance to frienship. Once someone has betrayed me i dont even want to see their face again. He also said his footbal career boosted because of Fatih Terim and that the only reason he returned to Galatasaray was due to him. Due to his peformance in the world cup and his mohawk style hair he has had alot of attention directed to him. It was said that a person would need need guts to return to Turkey with a hair style like his. Ebru Destan and Umit were at the same hotel for a holiday and as soon as Ebru found this out she arranged an interview. How many years has it been since you first started football? I have been playing for 23 years. But i have only been playing for a club for 10 years. After Turkey achieved third place in the world cup all eyes were turned to you. How did you feel about this? It is a very good thing. People asking for autographs and wanting to take pictures have increased dramatically. Everyone's attention was turned to you. Especially the attention of girls.... Naturally when you have a lot of attention on you, you do tend to get bored, but you should not break any hearts. Do you still talk with your old friends? Of course i do, sometimes i even meet up with friends in Germany. Was it hard for you to leave Germany and come to Turkey? Did friends in Germany draw yo back one you became famous? Most people know the sort of person i am. I dont feel the need to leave my friends when i become famous, im not that kind of a person. In frienships what to do think is most important? I think sharing is most important. My friends have always been by my side. I cannot forgive betrayal. In which kind of situations have you forgiven a person? I try not to hurt anyone when i speak to them. But you have to remember that im only human.. Have you ever been in a fight with a friend due to a girl? Girls that i have flurted will never be able to cause a fight between me and a friend. If im with a girl for one night i cannot say that we are together. Is it true that you were together with Ayse Hatun Onal? Yes. If you had a girlfriend would you mind being the attention of media, would you go out together? No i wouldnt mind being seen together, i would take her out. When you ae together with someone, would you announce it to the media? Of course i wouldnt, when we are together people will see us anyway. When the media get involved with your personal life, do you get angry? I do get angry at times. They write things that are all lies. In which kind of girls are you interested in, how would yo like her to be? Its a personal question but she doesnt have to be extremely pretty. I dont like girls who have tonnes of make up on. From which part of Turkey would you like her to come from? I would like her to come from Izmir. Have you ever had a girl friend from Izmir? Yes i did but we broke up. They say that you cant trust the water, air and girls of Izmir. What do you think? iI dont know, you should know that. I know but you said that you wanted a girl from Izmir. I didnt mean i would only get married to a gril from Izmir. Where do you shop? I dont go shopping that often. Your star sign is Leo. Do you carry the characteristics of a Leo? Yes i do. i generally like showing off with the clothes i wear. Due to not having enough match playing history there were debates about you playing in the world cup. Did you ever have a personal meeting with Senol Gunes? There was sayings that i was out of from, i hadnt played for 6 months. I had played 10 matches for Milan, for the National team and Galatasaray i had played 30 matches. I dont think i was out of from, but nevertheless Senol Gunes didnt add me onto the first 11 against Brazil. When you werent in the first 11 were you hurt? You do tend to get upset. I played 8 of the 10 matches leading up to the world cup. I had a part in us being in the world cup. I had a meeting with Senol Gunes and he told me that i hadnt a decrease in form and that i hadnt played enough matches. Does Senol Gunes rely on any particular player. Hakan Sukur for example. What do you think? Hakan Sukur will always be Hakan Sukur. Every player might not play well for 1 or 2 matches. We supported all the way. Today it was Hakan Sukur tomorrow it can be me. Even though you were playing for Milan, you signed a new 2 year contract with Galatasary? Did you live an unfortunate happening at Milan? I signed a contract with Galatasaray because Fatih Terim was there. I feel poud when i play for him. How how Fatih Terim increased you ability to play football? I have reached to this level in football due to him. When i was playing for Diyarbakir he called me to the National Team 2 years in a row. Fatih Terim is your hero, Senol Gunes is Hakan Sukur's hero... Do you think this is true? I dont believe that there is anything like a hero in football. There is 40, 000 people at the stadium and millions watching the match on tv. You sored very important goals for the team in the world cup. Did you ever think of playing as a striker? I had played as a striker for Galatasaray for a while. I enjoy coming from midfield and scoring goals. Once you score a goal you have exciting reactions.... Football is like a show. We enjoy purselves when we are playing, we want the fans to feel the same way. Why did you cut your hair in mohawk style? When we arrived in Hong Kong the temperature was extreme, i had sweated a lot. After the Brazil match i was very upset and i had made up my mind. If we hadnt played so well, it might have given a bad reaction to the fans. For example, they didnt play good so he cut his hair. But i had made up my mind. I didnt care what anyone thought. Im trying to live my personal life and not take orders from anyone. Do you over exagarate on topics? Some things i do over exagarate. If i do mistake while playing a match, i go back into that position and make sure i get it right this time around. I never hol back. Kids cut their hair like you, they wanted to be like you.... I didnt have the chance to follow things happening in Turkey from Korea and Japan. I found a few things from tv and the internet. When wea arrived in Turkey we just then were able to understand what was going on, we were shocked. But we had displayed Turkey to the world in marvellous way. When a person would say Turkey all sorts of things would come to mind. But aftet these matches Turks are thought as strong, intelligent and dynamic people. While you were playing for Milan anD Fatih Terim had left for a while did you did you come across with any hardships? Even when i would play a good match i would have to sit on the bench. I think this arose because i was Turkish. Maybe they thought i was here due to Fatih Terim only. However Milan's coach said, "You are here because we need you, not because of Fatih Terim." Did you feel that his explanation and the actions done towards you were different? The coach didnt want me. He allowed me to play but in the wrong positions. Were you at you best standard at Italy? N, i dont think so, but i i tried displaying my best. Most of the players who have gone overseas to play football, have not been able to do their best. Football is looked upon differently overseas. I am experienced in this, this might happen to me again. Was living there and having to make on the spot decision hard? We try to support each other. How do you look towards the future? Do you put the money you receive from tranfers in Sweden banks? I put my money in banks of Izmir. Do you have something for cars? I dont have a car at the moment!!!!! Did you ever feel anything like i want a Porsche or a nice car to drive around in? I wanted to own one of the nicest cars in the world. I have been in a car doing speeds up to 313 k/ph. When i drive a car i tend to lose myself. When you were younger did you ever think you would come to the point you have reached? I decided to play football when i was 20 in Turkey. It was my last year for Computer Engineering, i was injured as usual. I was also working at a key cutter. But my boss said that things couldnt go on like this forever. I had turned up to worh when i was injured. I had to make a choice. It must have been hard choosing football over computer engineering... I had trust in myself, so i decided to come to Turkey and play football. What are you going to do when you stop playing football? I havent really thought about it. I am only 29 years old, i am planning to play till im 33. I might become a businessman or a coach. Are you thinking of marriage? Yes i am. I am planning to get married and have kids. Have you been able to find the love you are after? No not as yet. As soon as you find it wiould you get married? If the pieces of the puzzle fit togther i would. I really love kids. UMIT'S REPORT Season, Team, No. of matches played, No. of goals 1996 - 97 Galatasaray 8 - 3 1997 - 98 Galatasaray 15- 3 1998 - 99 Galatasaray 25 - 2 1999 - 00 Galatasaray 28 - 0 2000 - 01 Galatasaray 3-2 2001 - 02 Milan 10 - 0 |
| Article of Umit's homecoming |
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| HERE WE GO AGAIN... Dear Friends; It is very difficult to be a football player in Turkey. If you don't fulfill someone's orders, you will be the subject of anger all of a sudden. It is not enough for dome people that you go and do your job best. I still haven't forgotten what was written about me before and during the World Cup, and I am subject to the same kind of critisim again now that the official football season started 3 weeks ago. I, actually know the reasons... I can say that I am trying to stay inside my cacoon these days , no interviews to TV or press, no talk to any press person. Which leads me to be under the arrows of criticism again. If I become a good material and say "yes" to everything , please be sure that I will be dearly loved within a couple of days. All of sudden non-fit Umit Davala is replaced by the superstar Umit Davala. I don't care what's written about me anymore.I just laugh them off. Because I know that these are on-purpose provocations. I know when I am good or bad. I believe that some mentalities in Turkey must change. I cannot accept the fact that, a simple mistake you do on pitch is enough to delete all your success at one second. I cannot believe that our form graphics is evaluated according to one position instead of whole of the match. I don't know why there are much more destructive criticism than constructive ones. I cannot accept that supporters are injected hatred instead of love. I may count a lot of wrong attitudes like these. But these are "press material" for some. They earn their bread off this and don't want to change this "material". I may have commented on Bursaspor match here but I didn't. You have already watched it. You've already seen our good and bad sides. You are aware that we are progressing everyday. So I wanted to share my problems with you today. Actually there is much more to say but I want to reserve them for my upcoming articles, what do you say? Take care... Umit |
| Article by Umit, From his Website!!! 8/27/2002: |
| The league of the Giants. Dear friends, The league that we belong to, in other words the league that all of Europe is awaiting, the European Champions league, we have said hello to for the seventh time. Our league of giants excitement started when the lots were drawn. The last six years we have joined this league we are setting our goals higher every time. I have said this many times before, but this year our aims are much higher. Some people cannot even dream about how high. Some people would be scared about how high. Some people wouldn't want it that high. I think that there is no reason why we should not reach these goals, especially when I saw our group, L. Moscow, Club Brugge and Barcelona I could say this with ease. Everybody's opinion is that we are in an easy group. It is being said that our opposing teams are simple and easy to play against. Club Brugge is going to live the uneasiness of the previous matches we have played against other European teams and won. L. Moscow is an easy team to beat compared to who we have played this passed year. The first match is in Moscow and the black winter hasn't come yet, this is a big advantage to us. With our experience of the Champions league and Europe, it should not come as a surprise that we win every two games. The favourites along with us, the famous Spanish team Barcelona are not as good as they were, they are not in form at the moment. Basically, from my point of view we will get to the second round without any problems. But you must never forget that any team that has got this far cannot be bad. To come this far is not an easy job. Every team cannot contend in this league. The ones that pass the specific level, are the ones that take place in this league. With this reason, we must not make big, little teams judgements and go into every match with the same seriousness. Galatasaray fans need not to worry. Like every time we are going to be Turkeys representatives for Europe and we are going to fly the flag high with pride. I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy Zafer bayram on the 30th of August. Look after yourselves. Date: 30/08/02 Umit Davala |
| * Brand New * Article from Umit's webpage 8/30/2002 |
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