Basaksehir, the football club with close ties to Turkey’s ruling party, will on Sunday evening celebrate winning their domestic championship in the home neighbourhood of one of their biggest fans, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Although the team secured the Super Lig title last weekend, celebrations were delayed until the away game against fellow Istanbul side Kasimpasa, based in the working-class district where Mr Erdogan grew up and whose stadium is named after the Turkish president.
The season’s final match also coincides with the anniversary of the 2014 inaugural match for Basaksehir’s stadium, an exhibition game in which Mr Erdogan pulled on the club’s orange jersey and scored a hat trick.
The club's success upsets the order that has dominated the league, namely the pre-eminence of Istanbul's "Big Three" of Fenerbahce, Besiktas and Galatasaray, who between them have won 54 titles since the Super Lig was founded in 1959.
Outside this trio, only Trabzonspor and Bursaspor had previously been champions. A further worrying sign for the Big Three was that none finished champions or runners-up for the only the second time in the league’s history.
“It’s a historic season. I don’t remember any season when one of the Big Three didn’t come in the top two,” Basaksehir chief executive Mustafa Erogut said.
Since 2014, when the club took its current form, Basaksehir has finished in the top four, securing entry to profitable European competition.
While many fans put this success down to its ties to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the perceived financial backing this won the club, less partisan voices point to Basaksehir's club structure.
Most Turkish clubs are membership-based foundations governed by regular elections. Patrick Keddie, author of 2018 book The Passion: Football and the Story of Modern Turkey, said this created instability because of fan demands for "instant success and big-name stars".
Basaksehir, meanwhile, are a joint-stock company owned by a small group of stockholders.
“They’re pretty much the only club in the Super Lig with an interest in the long term and are the best-run club by miles,” Mr Keddie said.
“On the one hand Turkey is known for its football fanaticism but sometimes that can drive a lot of short-termism and bad decision-making.”
Last season, Basaksehir came close to winning the title but stumbled in its final matches. “If any other big Turkish club lost the championship as we did last year, they would change everything, the coach, the players, everything,” Mr Erogut said.
“Because of our corporate structure we didn’t have this pressure and we gained experience from this loss.”
The club is not burdened with the huge debts of other Turkish clubs and faces fewer problems adhering to financial regulations, despite spending significantly on players such as Brazilian Robinho, former Chelsea forward Demba Ba and former Manchester City full back Gael Clichy.
It also does not finance a host of other sports clubs from water polo to table tennis, as the Big Three do.
However, it is difficult to ignore the sponsorship Basaksehir receives from companies with ties to the government, as well as links inside the club itself. Chairman Goksel Gumusdag, for example, is married to a niece of Mr Erdogan’s wife.
“I think people consider Basaksehir the football branch of the AKP,” said football journalist Alp Ulagay. “If the AKP loses an election and Erdogan loses the presidency, Basaksehir will suffer.”
It is a charge rejected by the club. “In the real world the government backs all the teams in Turkey,” Mr Erogut said. “The president likes football very much and the government supports teams by building stadia and through tax breaks.”
Commentators point to the experience of other so-called artificial teams as examples of what could happen to the champions.
Ankara's Osmanlispor thrived under the patronage of the city's AKP mayor but plummeted after he stood down in 2017 and play in the second tier. In the 1930s, Gunes Spor succeeded thanks to the backing of Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk but vanished after his death.
“Basaksehir have the capacity to go on and cement their dominance next season, with Champions League football and the income that comes with it,” said Mr Keddie. “However, their success is also contingent on politics and the sponsorship they get from government circles.”
Irrespective of the club’s success, its lack of fans – attendances at its 17,000-capacity stadium averaged 2,900 this season – reinforces the opinion that it is an AKP creation.
Daghan Irak, a sociologist at the University of Huddersfield, said largely secular football fans always presented an intractable obstacle to Mr Erdogan's dream of a pious Turkey.
“Football fandom is a very important part of modern life in Turkey and is one of the most important pillars of secular lifestyles,” he said. “Stadiums are secular temples so if you have a problem with secularism as a concept, you have a problem with football.”
The Basaksehir neighbourhood was developed by Mr Erdogan during the 1990s when he was Istanbul's mayor "as an alternative to districts that are the homes of secularism and the big football clubs of Istanbul", Dr Irak said.
Years later, anti-government chants at matches and fan involvement in the 2013 Gezi Park protests led to the foundation of the club. “Basaksehir emerged a year after Gezi to replace the secular lifestyles of other clubs’ fans,” Dr Irak said. “Like the neighbourhood, it’s Erdogan’s project.
“Basaksehir is trying to replace a certain fandom culture but no matter how many titles they win, they are still a failed project because the project isn’t about winning championships but changing the culture.”
As for the club's future, observers say they will find it difficult to consolidate their success without a larger fan base.
Mr Erogut said he hoped community outreach programmes would draw in young fans without allegiances to other teams. "I think in five to six years we will have a good fan base but it's more difficult than winning the league," he said.
Dr Irak pointed to the poignancy of Basaksehir’s title coming during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Basaksehir is a champion that plays for empty stadiums. It’s the best time for them to win because nowadays every stadium is empty,” he said. “Nothing in Turkey is normal right now, so it’s just another abnormality.”
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
5 of the most-popular Airbnb locations in Dubai
Bobby Grudziecki, chief operating officer of Frank Porter, identifies the five most popular areas in Dubai for those looking to make the most out of their properties and the rates owners can secure:
• Dubai Marina
The Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence are popular locations, says Mr Grudziecki, due to their closeness to the beach, restaurants and hotels.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh482 to Dh739
Two bedroom: Dh627 to Dh960
Three bedroom: Dh721 to Dh1,104
• Downtown
Within walking distance of the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and the famous fountains, this location combines business and leisure. “Sure it’s for tourists,” says Mr Grudziecki. “Though Downtown [still caters to business people] because it’s close to Dubai International Financial Centre."
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh497 to Dh772
Two bedroom: Dh646 to Dh1,003
Three bedroom: Dh743 to Dh1,154
• City Walk
The rising star of the Dubai property market, this area is lined with pristine sidewalks, boutiques and cafes and close to the new entertainment venue Coca Cola Arena. “Downtown and Marina are pretty much the same prices,” Mr Grudziecki says, “but City Walk is higher.”
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh524 to Dh809
Two bedroom: Dh682 to Dh1,052
Three bedroom: Dh784 to Dh1,210
• Jumeirah Lake Towers
Dubai Marina’s little brother JLT resides on the other side of Sheikh Zayed road but is still close enough to beachside outlets and attractions. The big selling point for Airbnb renters, however, is that “it’s cheaper than Dubai Marina”, Mr Grudziecki says.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh422 to Dh629
Two bedroom: Dh549 to Dh818
Three bedroom: Dh631 to Dh941
• Palm Jumeirah
Palm Jumeirah's proximity to luxury resorts is attractive, especially for big families, says Mr Grudziecki, as Airbnb renters can secure competitive rates on one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh503 to Dh770
Two bedroom: Dh654 to Dh1,002
Three bedroom: Dh752 to Dh1,152
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Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
The specs: 2018 Audi RS5
Price, base: Dh359,200
Engine: 2.9L twin-turbo V6
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 450hp at 5,700rpm
Torque: 600Nm at 1,900rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.7L / 100km
The Ashes
Results
First Test, Brisbane: Australia won by 10 wickets
Second Test, Adelaide: Australia won by 120 runs
Third Test, Perth: Australia won by an innings and 41 runs
Fourth Test: Melbourne: Drawn
Fifth Test: Australia won by an innings and 123 runs
Company%C2%A0profile
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If you go
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
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Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
The biog
Favourite food: Tabbouleh, greek salad and sushi
Favourite TV show: That 70s Show
Favourite animal: Ferrets, they are smart, sensitive, playful and loving
Favourite holiday destination: Seychelles, my resolution for 2020 is to visit as many spiritual retreats and animal shelters across the world as I can
Name of first pet: Eddy, a Persian cat that showed up at our home
Favourite dog breed: I love them all - if I had to pick Yorkshire terrier for small dogs and St Bernard's for big
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Zayed Sustainability Prize
MATCH INFO
Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)
Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Cry Macho
Director: Clint Eastwood
Stars: Clint Eastwood, Dwight Yoakam
Rating:**
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MATCH INFO
Inter Milan v Juventus
Saturday, 10.45pm (UAE)
Watch the match on BeIN Sports
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog
Birthday: February 22, 1956
Born: Madahha near Chittagong, Bangladesh
Arrived in UAE: 1978
Exercise: At least one hour a day on the Corniche, from 5.30-6am and 7pm to 8pm.
Favourite place in Abu Dhabi? “Everywhere. Wherever you go, you can relax.”
Pearls on a Branch: Oral Tales
Najlaa Khoury, Archipelago Books
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
