Exclusive to CalSouth.com
(August 9, 2023) – 16-year-old Gemma Ozturk of Los Angeles has been selected to play for the U17 Girls Turkish National Team. Ozturk, who was born in the United States but has a Turkish/British father, was discovered following her selection to the Cal South Pro+ ODP team.
“I was so excited when I found out I had been selected to play for the U17 Türkiye National Team and represent my country,” said Ozturk. “It’s a dream come true to play at the international level.”
Ozturk, who also attends and plays for Harvard-Westlake High School, is a talented player with a bright future ahead of her. She is fast, skillful, composed, and has a powerful shot. Her coaches are impressed at how hard she works on the pitch and that she is always willing to learn.
“The Cal South Pro+ ODP program is the best in the country and the perfect platform for players seeking to go to the next level,” said Cal South Chair, Nick Webster. “I had the pleasure of watching Gemma at the Pro+ ODP try-outs and the Ojai training camp. She is a talented player with a lot of potential. I am confident that not only will she be a valuable asset to Cal South’s team, but she will also excel on the international stage thanks to the world-class coaching she has received from her Cal South coaches.”
“I am really looking forward to playing in Türkiye and in Europe,” Ozturk said. “It’s going to be a great experience to play against some of the best players from around the world.”
Ozturk is an inspiration to young girls everywhere. She shows that if you work hard and never give up on your dreams, you can achieve anything.
About Cal South Pro+ ODP:
PRO+ ODP, the next evolution of player identification and development in the United States, combines all of Cal South’s current and future elite player development initiatives, and places them under one integrated structure. Cal South PRO+ ODP is a U.S Soccer Approved Program. The four key components of our Pro+ ODP system are Identification, Development, Inclusion, and Advancement. To learn more about Cal South Pro+ ODP, click here.
