Turkish sport club Besiktas' legendary president dies

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish multi-sport club Besiktas JK's honorary president Suleyman Seba has died aged 88. Seba, who was undergoing treatment for his respiratory tract infection, died at the American Hospital in Istanbul on Wednesday. One of the most respected figures in Turkish sport community, Seba's death sent shockwaves across the country, with prominent people expressing condolences and sympathies to the Besiktas family. Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek, and Youth and Sport Minister Akif Cagatay Kilic issued condolence messages for Seba's death. Besiktas' city rivals Galatasaray also offered sympathies. A former Besiktas player, Suleyman Seba is widely regarded as one of the legends of the club mainly due to his devotionally sportsmanlike attitude during his term as the chairman of the Istanbulite club between 1984-2000. Under his presidency, Besiktas won 22 titles in total including five domestic league titles, five Turkish Presidency Cup trophies and four Turkish Cup titles.