On February 8, 18-year-old Turkish Cypriot footballer Tahsin Özler inked his inaugural professional contract with Omonia, committing to the club until the conclusion of the 2026/27 season.
Özler made history in January by becoming the first Turkish Cypriot since 1957 to grace the club’s first team. He played a pivotal role, coming off the bench for the last half-hour in the team’s triumphant 3-0 Coca Cola Cup victory over Digenis Ypsona.
As only the second Turkish Cypriot to join Omonia’s first team, he follows in the footsteps of Ibrahim Aziz, who featured in the 1956-57 season. Özler’s journey began in the club’s academy, where he first signed at the age of 11 in 2017.
His ascent through Omonia’s ranks stands as a rare symbol of unity in the Cypriot football landscape, which has grappled with division longer than the island’s political scene. Despite historical challenges, including the 1955 ban on Turkish Cypriot teams playing on Greek Cypriot-owned grounds, Özler’s achievement is a testament to overcoming such obstacles.
The Cyprus Football Association (CFA) was initially a bicommunal organization, with Turkish Cypriot teams participating in its competitions. However, the ban led to the formation of the CTFA (Cyprus Turkish Football Association), marking a separation between the two communities’ football associations.
Despite past failures in bringing the associations closer, Özler’s success highlights a positive development in Cypriot football. The recent attempts by the CTFA to join the international football community have faced resistance, as evidenced by CFA chairman George Koumas’s opposition to the Turkish Cypriots’ initiatives.
Nicosia