food and politics

I need to pause and truly appreciate what unfolded this past Sunday. Türkiye’s volleyball team “Filenin Sultanları” clinched the CEV 2023 European Championship, and honestly I’m still feeling those post-match goosebumps. Watching it on-site, I can say that night will remain etched in memory. And if I’m giving so much weight to what might seem like “just a game” to many, let me try to touch upon ‘why’.

Here’s the deal: this wasn’t just a volleyball win. Nah, it was way more than that. It felt like a breath of fresh air in the middle of all the political tension in Türkiye. And while the team was out there smashing the competition, some were, instead, busy digging into the players’ personal lives. Why the obsession?

Ebrar, who’s absolutely killing it on the court, is under fire for her life choices? That’s like criticising football players for their weird hairstyles when the dudes are scoring left and right. It’s not about volleyball or Ebrar’s personal life. This is about strong women making waves and certain folks feeling some type of way about it. A broader narrative about empowered women creating ripples, and some being uncomfortable with it.

Enter Melissa Vargas, the Cuban-born sensation who’s now waving the Turkish flag. Her story, her skills, her own personal journey of love and acceptance – that’s a movie in itself. Each spike, each point, resonated with the passion she brings to the game. Obviously I’m a fan…

When the New York Times spotlighted the team, they weren’t just highlighting their game. They touched on the deeper sentiment: the team as a symbol of modern, powerful women amidst Türkiye’s identity crisis between the opposition and the ruling “elites”.

In the end, the team’s success is not just a testament to their athletic prowess, but it’s also about making voices heard in a society that’s in flux. And, behind the spikes and serves, there’s a bigger narrative playing out.

Cheers to our champions, not just for their skills, but for the hope for change they represent! 🏐🥂

P.S.: Special thanks to Daniele Santarelli, who by now perfected “Erik Dali“.