Roma Sports Club Struggles With Bidding, Training Space

Established 3 months ago, Romanspor became the first sports club founded for children and youth with Roma background that contained “Roma in its name. 

Founded with the support of Bursa Governor’s Office, the club is currently active in the fields of soccer, volleyball, tennis, athletics and wrestling. There are currently 350 children and youngsters enrolled in the club. 

Efkan Özçimen said the club was established in order to protect children and youngsters from “bad habits” and create a new platform for socialization. 

However, the club is facing problems with pitch biddings according to Efkan Özçimen - the president of Romanspor. The incident took place as the club was in need of soccer pitch and attempted to enter a public bidding for the lease of a carpet pitch located in Kamberler Neigborhood - a Roma people neighborhood currently under urban renewal. 

Özçimen claimed that their efforts have been blocked by Ahmet Köken - a local parliamentarian affiliated with Justice and Development Party. 

“We had been training for free for three months in that pitch. When we heard about the lease bidding, we wanted to join as well as our most natural right. Even though our documents were complete, Ahmet Köken asked us what we were doing. We communicated about our intentions to create a socialization space for Roma youth with the support of the governor’s office. He told us that they promised it to another club. We told him that he was attempting to force us with threat. When we sent out our lawyers, he let us in the bidding,” he said. 

The bidding, on the other hand, was lost by Romaspor against a higher bidding for 145,000liras. Romaspor could only afford 6,000 liras. 

“You would never lease a carpet pitch anywhere in the world. The bidding was corrupted. We will take legal action,” Özçimen continued. 

“We have been founded by governor’s office support but our efforts are being blocked by Bursa and Osmangazi municipalities. There is discrimination everywhere. If you have Roma background, life is though for you. Those kids who live in tents for year are now compelled to do their training on back streets. 

bianet reached an official from Osmangazi Municipality who denied the allegations and claimed that the bidding was made properly. 

“If the two neighbor teams could come together, the price would go up that far,” Ahmet Köken allegedly commented further on the issue.  

The official also mentioned of the strong likelihood of the bidding’s cancellation as they have yet to conclude the process.  (NV/BM)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.