Israeli Star Dia Saba Ignites Turkey's Super Lig With Surprise Leader Amedspor

Israeli midfielder Dia Saba has been a pivotal figure in the dream start to the season for newly promoted Turkish club Amedspor, which currently leads the Super Lig. Despite his stellar performances, Saba was notably absent from the latest Israeli national team squad. Coach Ran Ben Shimon explained that while Saba is professionally valued, the decision not to call him up was mutual, citing a need for players to be "100 percent ready with a clean head" and avoiding situations where a player's national team call-up might affect their club future.

Amedspor, a team that played in Turkey's third division just over two years ago, has achieved an unprecedented start to its first-ever Super Lig season. Following a decisive 3-2 home victory against powerhouse Besiktas on Sunday, where Saba scored the second goal, Amedspor sits atop the league table with 13 points, ahead of Galatasaray on goal difference. This remarkable achievement comes after securing promotion to the top flight for the 2026/27 season.

Saba has been instrumental in Amedspor's success, starting all six league matches and contributing three goals. His performance includes a brace in the opening match and a goal that was voted the best of August in the Super Lig. Last season, he was a key player in the team's promotion campaign, scoring nine goals and providing ten assists.

The club's home form has been particularly dominant, winning all four home games this season, a feat previously only matched by Fenerbahce in 1959. Furthermore, Amedspor has defeated three former champions, Trabzonspor, Basaksehir, and Besiktas, in their first encounters with such clubs in the top division, a record no other Super Lig team has achieved.

The team's attacking prowess is highlighted by the performance of on-loan striker Gift Orban, who has already scored seven goals and provided two assists in six games, outscoring several entire teams in the league. Saba expressed satisfaction with the team's performance, stating, "We are very happy. We did very good things in the first half. We worked very hard and deserved to win." He also emphasized maintaining perspective, acknowledging the team's current top position as a result of consistent good play.