In the rugged hills of Diyarbakır’s Silvan district, one home doesn’t simply stand out – it roars.
Painted in Galatasaray’s iconic yellow and pink, it’s greater than a house; it’s a tribute to a lifelong ardour.
Mehdi Keskinkılınç, a father of 4 and die-hard supporter of the Istanbul giants, turned his dream right into a brick-and-mortar actuality.
Using his earnings from plastering and insulation work, he reworked his dwelling’s facade two years in the past, proudly inscribing the identify of Mauro Icardi – the Argentine striker who led Galatasaray to back-to-back titles.
That alone was sufficient to catch the attention of Icardi himself, who reposted a photograph of the home to his 13.9 million Instagram followers with the caption, “Minik aslanlar büyüyor” (“Little lions are growing up”).
It was the type of consideration that turns a humble village dwelling right into a nationwide shrine.
But Keskinkılınç wasn’t achieved.
This summer time, after Galatasaray signed Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen and clinched a document twenty fourth league title, he added Osimhen’s identify subsequent to Icardi’s.
Alongside the names, he painted the coveted fifth star – symbolizing the membership’s dominance – and two lion figures: one for every striker.
“They said Osimhen was coming. I thought, if Icardi helped make us champions, why not Osimhen too?” Keskinkılınç informed native reporters. “I put his name up, added a star, and gave both players their lion.”
For Keskinkılınç, soccer is religion. “If I had 20,000 houses, I’d paint them all in yellow and red,” he stated. “I promised myself that if I ever owned a home, I’d decorate it with Galatasaray’s badge and Icardi’s name. I kept that promise.”
Yet past celebration, he desires of alternative. “We don’t ask to be taken to the stadium anymore,” he stated. “Just give our kids a small pitch – a place to play. Let it be named Galatasaray.”
He additionally had a message for critics who insulted him and his household on-line. “If you respected your own families, you wouldn’t insult someone else’s. No one has the right to be cruel behind a screen.”
And then got here a plea – to the person he now calls a Lion.
“Osimhen, don’t leave us. Don’t be lured away, brother. There are traps out there,” he stated, reciting a heartfelt rhyme. “Galatasaray has peace, love, and everything you need. We believe in you – just believe in us too. One cup is still missing in the museum: the Champions League. Let’s bring it home together.”
Source: www.dailysabah.com