Dostluk Spor Kulübü is a multi-sport club established 1973 as a women's football club in

Istanbul Istanbul ( , ; tr, İstanbul ), formerly known as Constantinople ( grc-gre, Κωνσταντινούπολις; la, Constantinopolis), is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, serving as the country's economic, ...

, Turkey. It is known as the country's first ever women's football club. The club also maintains the branches of basketball, swimming, tennis and volleyball to its activities. The club's colors are orange and black. "Dostluk" is the Turkish word for "Friendship". Dostluk Spor was founded by a group of young women with the slogan "''We can do it as good as men do.''" at the Moda neighborhood of

Kadıköy Kadıköy (), known in classical antiquity and during the Roman and Byzantine eras as Chalcedon ( gr, Χαλκηδών), is a large, populous, and cosmopolitan district in the Asian side of Istanbul, Turkey, on the northern shore of the Sea of ...

district in Istanbul on April 19, 1973. The club was preceded by the Istanbul Kız Futbol Takımı (Istanbul Girls' Football Team), which was formed by 13 women with the personal initiative of Haluk Hekimoğlu in 1971. The club's success initiated soon the establishment of other women's football teams in İstanbul,

İzmir İzmir ( , ; ), also spelled Izmir, is a metropolitan city in the western extremity of Anatolia, capital of the province of the same name. It is the third most populous city in Turkey, after Istanbul and Ankara and the second largest urban agglo ...

and

Ankara Ankara ( , ; ), historically known as Ancyra and Angora, is the capital of Turkey. Located in the central part of Anatolia, the city has a population of 5.1 million in its urban center and over 5.7 million in Ankara Province, maki ...

. Dostluk Spor women's football team became runner-up in the 1999–2000 season of the Turkish Women's First Football League. After existing many years as a women's football club only, the club extended its sport activities to basketball, swimming, tennis and volleyball in 1999. Currently, the club is based in Bakırköy district of Istanbul. Dostluk Spor fostered many sportspeople, who transferred later to major clubs.

Doğukan Sönmez Doğukan Sönmez (born 1 January 1992) is a professional Turkish basketball player. He is 2.09 m tall and plays center. He lastly played for Lokman Hekim Fethiye Belediyespor. Formerly, he played in Dostluk Spor in Bakırköy Bakırköy is a ...

of Galatasaray men's basketball is one of them, who began his career in Dostluk Spor. A notable member of the club is Lale Orta, who played football as a goalkeeper and captain from 1976 to 1989 in the women's team, served later as a trainer and then became Turkey's first ever female football referee. Between 2002 and 2007, she officiated international women's football competitions with FIFA badge.

References

Association football clubs established in 1973 1973 establishments in Turkey Women's football clubs in Turkey Football clubs in Istanbul Basketball teams in Istanbul Volleyball clubs in Istanbul Sport in Bakırköy {{Turkey-sport-stub

See also

References