Turkish Volleyball Federation (TVF) President Mehmet Akif Üstündağ, board members, technical team and national players attended the media day event held at Burhan Felek Volleyball Hall.
TVF President Üstündağ, National Men’s Volleyball Team Head Coach Slobodan Kovac and captain Murat Yenipazar made statements to the press.
Stating that an intense national teams season has started, Mehmet Akif Üstündağ said:
“The women’s national team season starts a week before the men’s. Today, the first stage of our National Women’s Team will start in Brazil. Immediately afterwards, our National Men’s Team’s 1st stage of the Nations League will start in Canada. I wish success to both teams. Hopefully, we will all support and watch with pleasure the successes that volleyball has brought, is and will bring to this country. We will share this happiness together. Turkish volleyball women and men will compete in the Nations League, the European Championship and the World Cup. “We have earned the right to participate directly in the finals of the Championship. Therefore, we will watch and share our teams competing for a place on the podium. We had a good preparation season. We gained good experience in the tournament in Italy. In this process, our friends will fight once again to be worthy of our country and to show what this country has done in volleyball.”
HEAD COACH KOVAC: “THERE IS A DIFFICULT PROCESS AHEAD, BUT WE ARE READY”
National Men’s Volleyball Team Head Coach Slobodan Kovac stated that they are ready for the Nations League and that they want to make the Turkish nation proud with their successful results.
Stating that they had a good preparation process, Kovac said, “We thank our Federation for giving us the chance to prepare under the best conditions. We had a good tournament in Italy. We had good wins against two important teams such as Italy and Belgium. It will not be easy. There is a difficult process ahead of us, but we are ready. Everyone is working very well, but one of the most important players of our team is not among us. Efe Mandıracı had an injury. We are expecting that as soon as possible. First, we must manage to be a team and work as a team. I think we will do this. Good. “I think we will show volleyball and make this flag and country proud.” he said.
MURAT YENİPAZAR: “IT IS A GREAT PROUD TO CARRY THIS JERSEY”
National Team Captain Murat Yenipazar said that he believes that they will give their best fight against tough teams.
Emphasizing that there is a good environment in the national team, captain Murat said, “My friends are looking at this summer with great hope because we raised the flag higher last summer. We continue to believe that we will raise the flag even higher. That’s why we are very hopeful. I think we are well prepared. It will not be easy. We will play against difficult teams. But I think we have shown that we can play against every team, and we will continue to do so. Nobody should have any doubts. We will definitely raise the flag higher.” He commented: