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Quarter-century tradition in Düzce: Volleyball tournament bringing villages together begins
The traditional volleyball tournament held among Circassian villages in Düzce since 1995 is in its 20th edition. This year, 14 teams and 110 amateur athletes are participating in the tournament dedicated to the late Fahri Ayyıldız.
This year, 14 teams and 110 amateur athletes are competing in the tournament. The event, which will last about 15 days, is not just about the matches; residents from the villages gather in the stands, chat, and spend summer evenings together. In some matches, fathers and their children wearing the same team jersey highlights the tournament's role in bringing generations together.
Konaklı Village Mukhtar Kadir Ayyıldız stated that the tournament is held each year in the name of one of the village's esteemed elders, and that this year the event is named after Fahri Ayyıldız. He added that in previous years, the names of İhsan Çetin and Ufuk Baysan were honored.
Spectators also expressed that the event strengthens friendship among the villages and that this years-long tradition holds an important place in Düzce's social life. The traditional volleyball tournaments held among Circassian villages in Düzce began in the mid-1990s under the leadership of the youth of Bataklıçiftlik village.
The first tournament was held in 1995 in Bataklıçiftlik village, a neighborhood of Düzce, under the name 'Bataklıçiftlik Village Summer Volleyball Tournament.' Over five years, from 1995 to 1999, the tournament was held in July and August, and the word 'traditional' was later added to its name.
THE TRADITION CONTINUES
After the earthquake disasters of August 17 and November 12, 1999, the tournaments were paused and last held in Bataklıçiftlik village in 2003. In 2004, the first tournament was organized with group matches in Bayramcı village and the quarterfinals, semifinals, and final held in the garden of the Düzce North Caucasus Cultural Association in Arapçiftliği village, a neighborhood of Düzce.
The following year, it continued to be held in Bayramcı village, a neighborhood of Düzce. From then until 2020, it continued without interruption except for force majeure reasons (it was not held in 2012, 2013, and 2016).
The tournament was paused in 2020 and 2021 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, and after the pandemic, it resumed jointly organized by Bayramcı village with contributions from the Düzce Adıge Culture Association. Tournaments held after the pandemic began to be named after individuals who left a mark on the community.
This event, which is enjoyed by spectators, prioritizes sportsmanship, reaches peak excitement, serves as a meeting point for many, and reunites people who haven't seen each other for years, is undoubtedly one of the longest-running village tournaments in Turkey.
The last four editions of the tournament have been dedicated to individuals who are no longer with us but who provided valuable services to society during their lifetimes and are wished to be remembered by future generations. The 2022 season was dedicated to the late educator M. Kazım Taymaz, recipient of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Service Award. The 2023 season was dedicated to Police Chief Ufuk Baysan, who was martyred in the treacherous coup attempt of July 15, 2016; the 2024 season to the late Rıza Devrim, who founded the first Caucasian association in Düzce in 1964; and the 2025 season to the late journalist and sports writer İhsan Çetin.
The tournament, which will begin on Monday, July 20, and is being held for the 20th time, is named after Habraçü Fahri Ayyıldız from Konaklı (Bayramcı) Village, who is no longer with us.
WHO IS FAHRİ AYYILDIZ?
He was born in Düzce in 1955. While living in Istanbul, he returned to his beloved hometown and made significant contributions to the establishment of the Konaklı (Bayramcı) Village Association and the launch of the traditional Bayramcı Village Volleyball Tournament. After retiring from the Düzce Forest Enterprise in 2010, he undertook afforestation efforts in his beloved village and put great effort into creating a recreation area.
He passed away from a heart attack during these efforts.
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