Pre-season evaluations: Ferhat Akbaş

Pre-season evaluations of our Head Coach Ferhat Akbaş

How do you see our team building for the upcoming season?

We are progressing in our team structure by putting on and getting stronger every season. I would like to thank all our players who contributed to our participation to the Champions League final and the Turkish League final last season. Years later, we reached the finals of both the Turkish League and the Champions League, which was an important step for us, but this performance was not enough for us to win the trophies. In our new season structuring, we have added players like Naz Aydemir Akyol, Jovana Stevanovic and Alexa Gray who know how to win and make their presence felt on the field in important matches. All of them are very important and experienced names in their own positions. Martyna Czyrnianska has great potential. She will make a name for herself in the long run in world volleyball. As our team setup; it is very clear that we will use the advantages of going on the field with a Turkish setter. Defne Başyolcu, on the other hand, is a player we brought to the Senior Team by putting a lot of effort into it. She is a player who we will pay special attention this season for the changing of her position and adapting her to the outside hitter position. Last season, we gave responsibility to 9 athletes such as Dilay and Defne with the help of the right projects in the Turkish 1st League (Turkish 2nd Division). We renewed the structure of our development program by investing in the right coaches and players. Our scouting program works very comprehensively. As a result of this structuring, we have become a team that won both championships and new young players within its development program.

How is the pre-season period going so far?

Our Senior Team pre-season preparations start on different dates depending on the individual situation of each of our players. We know that it is healthier to approach each player individually before the season and to bring the team together after certain stages. We will play friendly matches at home and abroad with our players who do not play in the national teams. But until that stage, physical work will be more important.

How do you evaluate the Champions League draws?

Our most important opponent in the Champions League group stage will be the Italian representative Savino Del Bene Scandicci. I believe that the matches we will play with them will be very useful for us in the next rounds. They have a strong technical staff and player group. The tough matches we will play will prepare us for the next stages. After the draw, we talked to Massimo Barbolini. I think it will add a lot to both teams to play against each other in the group stage instead of in the following rounds. Each point scored in the Champions League group stage directly affects the matchups for the next rounds. Like last season; we will also put great importance to the Maritza Plovdiv and Vasas Budapest matches in the group stage this season. We will go out on the field knowing the importance of every match.

Finally, can you share us your evaluation about the success of the Turkish National Team?

The tremendous success of our National Team is also an indicator of future gold medals, in my opinion. Volleyball is the biggest women's movement in Turkey. The whole volleyball family has achieved this with years of hard work. I would like to thank all the players, the technical staffs and our Federation, which always cooperates with the clubs, for making us feel this pride. We, as Eczacıbaşı Sports Club, will continue our efforts for Turkish sports since 1966 and the support we give to our women and girls on the way to success.