The only goal for Imam Hatip students in sports is championship.

Imam Hatipliler Sports Club, which competes in Manisa 1st Amateur Group Center B, is preparing for the 2024-2025 season with new transfers in a competitive manner. The club’s president, Murat Emgener, who has included young players in the squad, stated, “We are the only club representing such a large community in Turkey,” while the team’s head coach, Sadık Çalış, said that they will work to win the championship this year after narrowly missing it last year.

Before the 2024-2025 season, Imam Hatipliler Sports Club gathered at the Diyanet Youth Center. Speaking at the meeting attended by Club President Murat Emgener, board members, Head Coach Sadık Çalış, club sponsors, and players, President Emgener wished everyone a successful season, saying, “May the 2024-2025 football season be good for us, inshallah. We have new friends joining us. We welcome them. Others will also join us. Together with last year’s team, we say Bismillah and make a start today, inshallah. May God make the outcome beautiful. As Imam Hatipliler Sports Club, our leadership is to be an example in our behavior, actions, and lives both on and off the field. This is our mission, friends. Why? Because we carry the name of a large community on the football field. Imam Hatipler. Don’t underestimate the name Imam Hatipliler. Because it is a big community. We are the only club in Turkey representing such a large community. We are the only club in Turkey in football. Everyone’s eyes are on us. Therefore, let us be exemplary people both on and off the field. We need to be role models in life, knowing that this world is temporary, living as an example of this world and moving on to the afterlife. The second is sports success, friends. Last year you made a great effort. Together with my coach, we finished second in the league. Inshallah, our goal this year is to complete the season as champions. Without a goal, there can be no success. This is true in school life, work life, and sports life. If you don’t have a goal, you won’t achieve success. You need to set a goal for yourself and work towards it. Allah grants rewards to everyone who works. Does God give everyone their due for their hard work? Yes, He does. So, you should work hard, and at the end of the season, inshallah, make yourselves and us happy. This is a place for you to show yourselves because when you are Imam Hatip, everyone will be watching you. We pray and hope that you will show yourselves here and reach better places. Inshallah, wishing you a healthy season without injuries, may it end happily, and may we achieve the championship. We wish success to all teams. May the matches be played in a sportsmanlike manner, inshallah.”

Thanking the sponsors in his speech, Emgener said: “We thank Şehzadeler Kuyumculuk, Osmanoğlu İnşaat, Asos Kuyumculuk Muharrem Uzunlar, former player Hüseyin Top, Kaptanı Yeri, Güney Kebap, Dağlı Shoes, Karamel Pastry Shops Alaaddin Erdoğan, and their partners. Inshallah, our sponsors will increase. We will serve you better, friends. Because without sponsors, this work cannot progress, friends. The more sponsors support amateurs, the more comfortable amateurs can breathe. Inshallah, we hope that municipalities will provide more support this year as well. We thank our sponsors once again from here.”

“This year is the year”

Imam Hatipliler Sports head coach Sadık Çalış stated that they want to achieve the championship they narrowly missed last year, saying: “Last year we came very close to the championship. I believe that with God’s permission, this year is the year, inshallah. We will crown this year with a championship, inshallah. I am very pleased with all of you. May God bless you. I believe that together we will overcome this challenge by working harder and putting in more effort. I don’t think anyone here came to this club on a whim. I believe everyone has a goal and a conviction. I know that their common point is to lift the trophy at the end of the season. If God allows us, if we work hard, we will reap the rewards of our efforts, inshallah. As I said, we will move forward by working together and building upon our efforts. Looking back to last year, five of our players are in Çınaroba, and they are on their way to the championship. We have only sent those five players there. Inshallah, of course, our primary goal is the championship, but as our president said, to send good people and good football players to better places. Inshallah, may God grant us both the championship and open your paths beautifully. We will reach good places together.”

Club President Murat Emgener presented a jersey with his name on it to Talat Gezer, the owner of the main sponsor Şehzadeler Kuyumculuk, for his support.

This year, Imam Hatipliler Sports has included young talent Muhammed Enes Cangel from Manisaspor, along with Murat Çevik, goalkeeper Serhat Soykök, Emrah Canseven, Emrah Taylan, Jiyan Şanlı, and Bayram Acar in their squad, and has signed contracts with young footballers as well. Imam Hatipliler Sports will face Karaağaçlı Technical Sports in their first match of the league.