TAFK Lefkoşa
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| General Information | |
|---|---|
| Full Name: | Lefkoşa Türk Atletik Futbol Kulübü Athletic Football Club of the Turks of Nicosia |
| Short Name: | TAFK Lefkoşa • TAFK |
| Nickanmes: | başkentin çocukları (The Children of the Capital) |
| Foundation: | June 18, 2026; |
| Location: |  Lefkoşa, Northern Cyprus
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| Chairman: | Tevfik Annak
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| Head Coach: |  Anestis Posponi
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| Mánager: | Hasan Sinan
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| Facilities | |
| Stadium | Lefkoşa Atatürk Stadı |
| Capacity: | 12.000 |
| Other Complex | Atatürk Cadesi |
| Shirt | |
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TAFK Lefkoşa (3359254) (Turkish:Lefkoşa Türk Atletik Futbol Kulübü, lit Athletic Football Club of the Turks of Nicosia) is a Turkish Cypriot hattrick football club based in North Nicosia, Cyprus.
The club plays in the Lefkoşa Atatürk Stadı located in the turk part of Nicosia.
TAFK is the first and only club who represents the unrecognized Northern Cyprus, and plays in the Cyprus League System under the rules and registration of the HFA, currently plays in IV. division.
TAFK currently plays in the Cypriot League following. TAFK represents its own national association in the Hattrick football system, even though it plays in the Cypriot league system. This is due to Northern Cyprus not organising its own league. TAFK is ineligible to represent Northern Cyprus internationally and does not participate in Northern Cyprus due to this arrangement, for this arrangement, TAFK is often viewed as a substitute national team of Northern Cyprus and his people.
History
The club was founded on June 2026, by a group of Turkish Cypriot teachers, lawyers, merchants, and civil servants from the historic center of Lefkoşa. Their intention was to create a club that would represent the entire Turkish community of the capital, not just a specific neighborhood. At a time when many clubs had a strong community or religious component, TAFK defined itself as a civic club, with a strong Turkish Cypriot identity but open to anyone who wanted to represent the city.
Their first pitch was a plot of land next to the Venetian walls.
Although TAFK represents the Turkish Cypriot community, and as a whole, Northern Cyprus, the club has a strong sense of nationalism and a desire to compete in the Hattrick league in Cyprus, despite its country not being officially recognized. the first president of the club, Kemal Arslan said "We compete together without giving up our identity"
The club registered in the Cypriot fifth division, but was then abandoned a month after its founding due to administrative decisions stemming from cash flow problems of its owners.
The following month, after an extraordinary meeting chaired by former Cypriot international player Tevfik Annak, the club was refounded at the end of July 2026, this time reaching the fourth division of the Cypriot Hattrick League. To maintain sustainability and solvency, as well as its philosophy, the club adopted certain conditions and affiliations to ensure its long-term existence would not become problematic in the country. One of these conditions is the prohibition of signing Greek players and the encouragement of foreign players to join the club. In addition to maintaining harmony and keeping under control any independentist or radical elements that may exist within the club.
The club hired Anestis Pospori as a head coach and numerous players with the objective of replacing local cypriot players with foreign players, including the turkish Onur Mete Tüzemen and Kadri Erkal
Legal Status
TAFK is one of several expatriate Non official football countries, playing in the Cypriot Football League. its status in Cyprus is a "guest club", and as such it does not participate in the Northern Cyprus Cups and Tournaments and cannot represent Northern Cyprus internationally. This makes any international qualification from Northern Cypriot league football impossible under current rules. Although the club is legally based in Northern Cyprus, identifies with the country, and has Northern Cypriot roots, it is legally considered Cypriot. Its players, born and raised in Northern Cyprus, are considered Northern Cypriot and may contribute to the country's identity, but they represent Cyprus internationally.
