Benin’s Junior Olaitan apologises to Beşiktaş fans after disappointing season

Beninese midfielder Junior Olaitan has apologised once again to Beşiktaş supporters following a frustrating campaign and says the club is fully focused on making amends as preparations continue for the new season.

Olaitan joined the Istanbul club from Göztepe in February and wasted little time making an impression. The attacking midfielder established himself as a regular in the starting line-up, featuring in 18 matches across all competitions while contributing two goals and three assists.

His swift adaptation made him one of the club’s key performers during the second half of the campaign, but his personal progress could not prevent Beşiktaş from enduring a disappointing season.

The Black Eagles finished behind rivals Galatasaray, who secured the Turkish league title, while their hopes of domestic silverware also ended in heartbreak after a 1-0 defeat to Konyaspor in the Turkish Cup semi-final.

Reflecting on the campaign during an interview with Benin Football, Olaitan admitted the team had fallen short of expectations and expressed regret over the disappointment experienced by the club’s supporters.

“We greatly disappointed our supporters last season. I would like to apologize again, particularly for the Turkish Cup semi-final.”

Despite the frustrations of the previous season, the 24-year-old believes the focus must now shift towards rebuilding and ensuring Beşiktaş return stronger in the upcoming campaign.

Olaitan stressed that the backing of the fans will play a crucial role as the club looks to recover from last season’s setbacks. He said maintaining the supporters’ encouragement throughout the campaign could help drive the team back to the level expected of one of Turkey’s biggest clubs.

“This season, we will need their support from the first to the last match.”

Beşiktaş will soon have the opportunity to begin a new chapter when they launch their 2026/27 season in the qualifying rounds of the UEFA Conference League.

Their first assignment will see them take on FC Midtjylland as they attempt to make a positive start to the campaign and rebuild confidence after last season’s disappointments.

For Olaitan, the upcoming season offers both the player and the club the chance to turn the page. Having already become an important figure since his arrival, the Benin international will be hoping to build on his impressive start in Istanbul while helping Beşiktaş reconnect with their supporters through improved performances and stronger results.