TAFK Lefkoşa
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| General Information | |
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| 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 and other Arslan retractors, 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, Among other numerous players, the club signed a total of 19 players, including Turkish and other foreigners, retaining only Turkish Cypriots on the roster and dismissing or finding other clubs for the Greek Cypriots. The move initially generated much controversy, but was applauded for maintaining, in some way, the club's objective and philosophy of being a representative of Northern Cyprus in Hattrick.
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
Stadium
Lefkoşa Atatürk Stadı
Main article: Lefkoşa Atatürk Stadı
|The Atatürk Stadium, (Turkish: Lefkoşa Atatürk Stadı) is located in North Nicosia, just north of the wall who separates Cyprus with Northern Cyprus The stadium is located in the Kızılay area, in the northern part of Lefkoşa, within the Atatürk sports complex. It is located within the Atatürk Sports Complex and is currently one of the city's main sports venues of the country. Is the home of the TAFK and the Northern Turkish Football Federation, afiliated to NFA
The stadium inaugurated his participation in favour of TAFK in a match against AEK Limassol, with the victory of the Northern Cypriots 3-2
The name honors Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Republic of Turkey and a central figure in Turkish political and cultural identity.
Colours and Logo
The first colours of TAFK are At first, were red and white, like the Turkish flag, after the refoundation in season 74, tThey are red and white. These colors have been with the club since its founding and are one of the main elements of its visual identity.
The choice of red and white is linked to the sporting tradition of the Turkish Cypriot community, within which both colors have historically been used by numerous clubs. In the case of TAFK, red also acquired particular importance as a symbol of belonging and continuity, while white was associated with the city of Lefkoşa and its civic character. The club's home kit is predominantly white, with a diagonal red stripe running from the right shoulder to the bottom left of the shirt.
This combination has become one of the club's most recognizable visual features. The choice of white as the primary color reflects a historical intention to distinguish TASK from other Turkish Cypriot clubs that used red as their main color.
The red stripe represents the club's Turkish identity, while the white background represents Lefkoşa as a city. The combination aims to express the idea of a Turkish Cypriot institution deeply rooted in the capital
The red of the second kit comes directly from the color used in the club's crest and has become a symbol associated with important matches. For this reason, fans often call it "Kırmızı Forma" ("the red kit").
In derby matches, especially against other historic Lefkoşa clubs, the team usually wears this kit.
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Current Squad
As of 1 August 2026
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under HFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-Hattrick nationality. (Turkish Cypriot passport)
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Coaching Staff
| Position | Staff |
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| Head coach | Anestis Pospori
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| Assistant coach | Şenol Titiz Alexis Makridis Asım Enise
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| Goalkeeper coach | Niyazi Ersun
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| Fitness coach | Koray Bozdemir Nireas Pisinos  Tarsun Çakabey
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| Video analyst | Fotis Kostas Erden Kartal Aggelos Konstantinou
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| Club doctor | Dr. Antonius Antoniadis Toprak Alhat
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| Physiotherapist | Saltuk Sümer Orhan Kafar Kibar Teğmen
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| Rehabilitation therapist |  Mehmood Dar
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| Nutritionist | İsmail Yücepur
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| Team manager | Latif Olgunsoy Abdurrezzak Güzden
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| Kit co-ordinator | Gediz Pişkin Finn Gauf
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| Chef de cuisine | Müşfik Çakmak Sait Terim
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| Players relation and integration assistant |  Clementino Bergman Filho
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