Merih Demiral's Meaningful Move: Café Opens, Free for Martyrs' Families

Turkish national football player Merih Demiral, together with his family, has opened a café in his hometown of Karamürsel, Kocaeli. The café, named "28" in memory of Merih's mother who died in a traffic accident on the 28th of the month, will offer free services to families of martyrs and veterans year-round. Merih's father, Burhan Demiral, emphasized the family's commitment to supporting these families and shared that Merih hopes to play for Kocaelispor in the future.

The café, named "28," opened its doors to customers on March 25, employing 12 staff members to serve a variety of international dishes. Merih and his family chose the name "28" to honor Merih's late mother, who passed away on the 28th of the month. In honor of Merih's wish, the café now offers free services to families of martyrs and veterans every day of the year.

Burhan Demiral, 62, explained, "I was born in Karamürsel. I used to work in construction. After retiring, my son opened this place. We take care of our café. It was Merih's wish to offer free services to the families of martyrs and veterans. We support this initiative. Our café is free for these families every day of the year. We also host special days for people with disabilities and offer free services on those days. In May, we will run a campaign for all citizens, and we've already held a half-price campaign in April. We will continue to offer free services to the families of martyrs and veterans. They are our trust, Turkey's pride. We do our best to support them. We welcome them and will continue to do so."

Burhan also noted Merih's social consciousness, mentioning his regular contributions to charitable causes, including organizing iftar dinners during Ramadan and selling autographed footballs from his former teammates.

Burhan emphasized the importance of Merih's national football career, expressing pride in his son's achievements. "Merih started playing football at the age of 8. He was very determined, working hard every day, rain or shine. He loved his job and was very patriotic. We are proud of his national team appearances."