October Thoughts: Ferhat Akbaş

In the days following the conclusion of the first month of the 2023-2024 season, we sat down with our Head Coach Ferhat Akbaş to discuss our season's start and his life off the court. Emphasizing the importance of team cohesion in the new roster, Akbaş highlighted the word "reaction" as the key factor that will bring success this season.

How do you assess our start to the season?

This season, we once again started with derby matches. The matches against THY and Fenerbahçe were significant not only because we secured great victories but also because we improved our gameplay. In the Aydın match, we experimented with different rotations, which made our initial performance a bit sluggish. Especially on days when Boskovic needed rest, we tried to adapt Voronkova to the opposite hitter position, which she had played successfully multiple times in Russia. The match against Vakıfbank, on the other hand, was a game where we couldn't fully execute our game plan due to minor injuries to Alexa Gray and Martyna Czsynianska that prevented them from playing. I found our level of effort in that match to be insufficient.

However, the loss to Vakıfbank provides us with a crucial opportunity for a reaction. We've been focusing on this in team meetings. Implementing our game plan and increasing our fighting spirit should be our primary focus, and we need to provide a long-term reaction to this situation. This season, "reaction" will be the key word for us, as developing a team game that fights until the end and reacts to challenges is the only way to win trophies. We are moving forward with the understanding that the team is more important than individuals. All our players are aiming for winning championships rather than individual success, and as a club, we are working exclusively towards this goal.

Elif and Naz are vital parts of our local player rotation. What do these two talented setters bring to the team?

Naz displayed her leadership for the team before the season and continues to do so on the court. Her quality is evident, and she translates it well to the field. She is the unifying element of our team. She played a key role in the victory against Fenerbahçe. Elif is a setter with great potential who is moving towards her mature years. She has put a lot of effort into the development of our club over the past four years and works tirelessly. We are working to improve her defensive skills, passing quality, and game strategy. We entrust her with a lot of responsibility, especially in challenging moments. Having two top-level setters like them adds significant strength to our team.

Our captains Tijana Boskovic and Simge Aköz have started the season in great form...

Simge is the symbol of our team's resilience. She elevates the team with her character and performance in tough times. She is in excellent form and works hard. Tijana brings her best in every match. Both of them are very positive this season and are highly focused on winning championships. They set an example for all players.

One notable feature of this season is the consecutive high-stakes matches. How are the preparations going?

We have a very intense schedule ahead of us. While we aim to perform well in both the Champions League matches and league games, we are also continuing our preparations for the World Club Championships. We see the season as a whole, and we will step onto the court in every competition to win matches and trophies.

Did you like the special red jersey prepared for the 100th Anniversary of the Republic?

The enthusiasm during our Republic Day celebration and the jerseys designed with the concept of "Atatürk's Daughters" were magnificent. We celebrated our Republic and the beautiful game with all our fans. We thank our players who put on a performance worthy of the "Daughters of Atatürk" jersey.

You experienced another exciting moment last summer. How has becoming a father changed your life?

I see a brand-new life ahead of me. I realized how incomplete I was after becoming a father. I feel complete now. My sole focus used to be the path I was walking. Now, I dream of accompanying my son on his journey. I never imagined that the things I value in life would be turned upside down so quickly. Being with my wife by his side is the most beautiful thing in the world. I wouldn't trade this happiness for anything.

I try to start my day very early. I used to have a fixed sleep schedule, but after having a baby, you adapt more to his life. I don't leave home in the morning without seeing him. Some days, when training and matches end late, I rush home, especially after satisfying victories. He attended our match for the first time during the Fenerbahçe match. Now, we have a new lucky charm for challenging matches.

We saw that you played rock, paper, scissors with Elif before the Çukurova Belediyesi match as part of the Republic Day celebrations. Who won that bet?

We often make bets with Elif and other players during training. Elif is usually good at making bets and knows how to win. It motivates her. Last season, she won a prize a few times when she outperformed me in training. The bet before the match was simpler, but it unexpectedly escalated. We can say that luck was on my side this time.