The claim that Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was a supporter of their respective sports clubs is expressed not only in İzmir but throughout Türkiye. We read articles on this subject both on the websites of these sports clubs and occasionally in the press. As residents of Karşıyaka, without engaging in the debate of "Which team did the Great Leader support?", we continue to march steadfastly towards the goals he pointed out, upholding our commitment to his revolutions and principles and safeguarding our national sovereignty.

If we were to share this anecdote about Mustafa Kemal Pasha from the Battle of Çanakkale, where we lost 13 of our sons from Karşıyaka as martyrs: During the Battle of Çanakkale, a Turkish soldier on a reconnaissance mission captured an English soldier, grabbed him by the throat, and brought him before Mustafa Kemal Pasha. When Pasha asked the English soldier why he had come all the way from his homeland, he received the answer, "For sport." Mustafa Kemal asked, "How did you find our soldier?" The captive soldier replied, "He doesn't know sport." Upon this, Mustafa Kemal said, "If they ask me what sport is, my answer will be this: Sport is the physical and spiritual ability to grab those who violate the high interests of the nation and country by the throat and bring them before the servants of the nation and country."

In his speech at the panel held to commemorate the 95th anniversary of KSK (Karşıyaka Sports Club), the esteemed researcher Sancar Maruflu, citing historian Afet İnan, explained that Atatürk's words, "I like athletes who are intelligent, agile, and moral," were uttered under the influence of his second visit to KSK. In 1937, Atatürk stated: "...Sport is not merely a matter of physical ability. Intellect and morality also contribute. Strong individuals with limited intelligence and comprehension cannot compete with less strong individuals who possess intelligence and comprehension. I like athletes who are intelligent, agile, and moral." After these words, there is not much more to say. In short, Atatürk was a supporter of whichever sports club, team, or athlete possessed these qualities.

On the other hand, if we look at Mustafa Kemal's historical encounters with Karşıyaka and the Karşıyaka Sports Club; the Karşıyaka Sports Club was founded on November 1, 1912, under the name Karşıyaka Physical Education Club by Zühtü Işıl, who was later remembered as a hero of the National Forces, and his comrades. Indeed, the club's colors are derived from two of the most important values of Turkishness: Karşıyaka's red from the flag and its green from Islam. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk did not leave the club's administrators' activities in the National Struggle unrewarded. For example, on the first day after İzmir's liberation from enemy occupation, September 10, 1922, when he requested the establishment of a headquarters in the city, he indicated the mansion of Sadi İplikçi, the then president of the Karşıyaka Sports Club, as the address.

The well-known incident where a Greek flag was laid at Atatürk's feet, and he removed it, saying he could not insult the values of another nation in this way, also took place in this mansion. Atatürk's interest in Karşıyaka was certainly not limited to these events. During every visit to İzmir during and after the War of Independence, he visited the Karşıyaka Sports Club, watching the training sessions of the football and tennis teams numerous times. He personally ordered the use of the crescent and star on the club's emblem.

Gazi Mustafa Kemal's first visit to the young Republic of Turkey dates back to October 13, 1925. In his writings in the notebook, Gazi noted: "The youth I encountered at the Karşıyaka Sports Club are worthy of pride. In the face of this youth, the strength and happiness of the future are clearly visible."