Yukatel Merkezefendi Municipality, which attracted attention with its performance in the Turkish Insurance Basketball Super League (BSL), completed the season in 9th place and qualified for the European cups for the first time in its history. The green-blacks, who set an example to their rivals with the right structuring and financial discipline, are preparing to represent Denizli in the international arena.
Yukatel Merkezefendi Municipality, competing in the Turkish Insurance Basketball Super League, successfully ended the 2025-2026 season. Finishing the season in the 9th place with its consistent performance in the league, the Denizli representative earned the right to represent Türkiye in the European cups in the 2026-2027 season. The club, which has followed a sustainable growth strategy since the day it was promoted to the Super League, has started to reap the fruits of correct planning with this success.
The club, which has achieved a professional structure under the leadership of Merkezefendi Mayor Şeniz Doğan, Club President Veli Deveciler, General Manager Evren Yenice and head coach Zafer Aktaş, is appreciated for its management approach off the field as well as on the field. The sponsorship contribution provided by Yukatel Chairman Yusuf Karataş, one of the club’s biggest supporters, and the financial discipline in the management enabled the green-blacks to take firm steps forward instead of uncontrolled growth.
“EUROPE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY”
One of the most important keys to the success of the Denizli team was technical stability. The management signed a long-term partnership with the experienced head coach Zafer Aktaş, who was appointed to head the team 6 years ago, and was rewarded for this patience with a ticket to Europe. Coach Zafer Aktaş’s disciplined approach to play, competitive squads established with limited budgets, and the fact that foreign players see Denizli as a stepping stone have made the club a “veteran” of the league. Making a statement after the historical success, head coach Zafer Aktaş stated that they have reached the best level in the club he has been working for 5 years and said, “We are competing in a very difficult league. It is an honor to have the right to participate in the European cups. The rest is about the vision of the club. If the investments continue to increase, the European stage can be a very important opportunity for us.”
THE BAR WILL BE MOVED UP WITH EUROPEAN EXPERIENCE
Displaying a more balanced budget management compared to its competitors, “Masters of the City” also secures its future by transferring the financial support of its main sponsor Yukatel to infrastructure and sustainable projects. Turkish sports public considers this move of Merkezefendi Municipality not as a surprise, but as the natural result of a planned work. It is expected that the Denizli representative will raise the bar even higher with his European experience in the coming years.
