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 YalovaFC.com take great pride in introducing our new editorial series focusing on the wonderful personalities whom have served our club well over the years. Our first feature involves our current Sporting Director Hasan Salahi who has been a loyal servant in various roles. Here is Hasan Salahi's Yalova story...
Name: Hasan Salahi;
Age: 50;
From: Lewisham, South East London;
Yalova Career: From: 1975 To 1990
Position Played: Midfield at start of career, right-back and later centre back
Nickname at club: Kucuk Hasan (Little Hasan)
Honors: Player of the Year 1983 – 1984 (TYSF)
1. How long have you been involved with Yalova either as a fan, player or board member? All my life – knee high to a grasshopper.
2. Were there any influences behind your decision to partake in any of the above positions?
Growing up in Yalova, a football mad village where playing the sport was a very popular past time and kept me out of trouble. When I came over to London in 1976 it was only natural to carry on playing for Yalova as it was established by Hasan Salih (present chairman) and it was a piece of back-home.
3. Can you recall the first Yalova game you watched? If so, tell us about it?
Duzkaya, can’t remember the result but I remember my father who was a referee for that match stopping the match after a player swore at him, having a fight and resuming the match.
4. Can you recall the first Yalova game you played? If so, tell us about it?
1975 against Magosa Turk Gucu, we lost 2-0 - it was a dream come true. I was under age and at 16 was below the 17 year minimum age requirement, but the club was desperate to play me and fiddled my birth certificate and I played my first game for Yalova.
5. What is your most memorable match or moment as a Yalova man?
In Cyprus, playing against Gonyeli for a cup game. Yalova had dropped a division that year and the first team refused to play and the manager played the younger team (us) instead. The Gonyeli team took a team photo of the players from behind, displaying their 11 players and showing that they were going to score eleven goals against us kids. But the young bloods, against all odds, thrashed the mighty Gonyeli 2-0. For the second leg all the main players from the first team turned up and beat them 4-0.
6. Who is your current favourite Yalova player? I think they all have their own individual talents – they’re all good.
7. Who is your all-time favourite Yalova player? Goalkeep Hilal Ali. He was playing for Yalova when I was growing up, but then went on to play with him in both Cyprus and London.
8. Who is the best Yalova player you have ever played with? Midfield player Mustafa Kemal, he gave me my first ever pair of football boots when I got into the second team for Yalova. I will never forget that gesture.
9. What do you think about the current Yalova setup? I am very proud of the way Yalova has been brought back to life.
10. Do you think Yalova will be successful this season? If so, in what competition? We have already had one massive success, Yalova is back again! Next year we will be on top form in all competions and challenges.
11. Are you coming to the Yalova Christmas Party? Who will you bring with you? Yes, with my wife and little son Kemal.
12. Finally, is there anything else that you would like to share with your fellow Yalova fans which we may not have covered in the above questions?
Let’s take Yalova back to the top where we belong!
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