Fenerbançe Wheelchair Basketball Branch Supervisor Gökhan Akça stated that the team, which had previously competed under the umbrella of the 1907 Fenerbahçe Association, under the name ‘1907 Fenerbahçe Disabled Stars’, reached the championship in its first season after its transfer to Fenerbahçe Club.
“All of our athlete friends have passed into the history of Fenerbahce”
Akça emphasized that as the 1907 Fenerbahçe Association, they gave the club a championship without any financial burden.
“After transferring the team to the club, we go to the competitions under the name Fenerbahçe, but as the 1907 Fenerbahçe Association, we do all the expenses, sponsorship, income, organization and management. “We are doing a good job. Our 4 years have been full of championships. This year is much more valuable. Because the branch that struggled with the name Fenerbahçe for the first time became champion in its first year. All of our athlete friends went down in Fenerbahçe’s history.”
“To support Amaö Fenerbahçe Club in every aspect and to create a project”
Akça explained that the association was established to support Fenerbahçe.
“I cannot say that such a model is easy. 1907 Fenerbahçe Association celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. The purpose of its establishment is to support Fenerbahçe Sports Club in every aspect and to create a project. 4-5 years ago, Ali Koç was talking about his presidential plans, for the disabled branch and e-sports. As the 1907 Fenerbahçe Association, we took on the Disabled Stars team as an association in the 2018-2019 season and started to compete in the Super League under the name of 1907 Fenerbahçe Disabled Stars. In the last congress, our president received approval from the general assembly for the opening of 2 branches. Both e-sports and wheelchair basketball teams under the responsibility of the association have been transferred to the club.”
Akça stated that they responded to the support of Fenerbahce with the championship.
“As an association, we will continue this as long as our club gives us a task. We have also established a sponsorship model. 60 percent of the teams in the league are the municipality team, the rest is the club team. Club teams also have serious budgets. We entered the competitions under the name Fenerbahçe and started to cover our expenses with 12 sponsors. It was with the participation of nearly 800 members of Fenerbahçe Association and people who gave their hearts to Fenerbahçe in 1907. We met a significant part of this financial support with sponsorships. We gave them the championship as a gift. We received only their management support, trust and belief without any financial burden coming to the club. “
Akça said that Chairman Ali Koç showed close interest in the team.
“Our president takes care of the team very much, he never leaves him alone. He wanted to come to the final match, but he could not come. He watched the match and was very excited. ‘I watched the replay in the evening, I was equally excited even though I knew the result.’ “He’s so devoted to this sport. He never leaves our players alone. Both our president and our manager, Kemal Danabas, and our other managers are always with us.”
Akça noted that the yellow-dark blue club’s championship in other basketball branches this season motivated them.
“This championship has been an integral part for us. We waved the flag of Fenerbahçe in every branch of basketball in Turkey. This was a separate motivation, but the main motivation for our players was to present the championship to Fenerbahçe in its first year and bring this trophy. This was a very important motivation. This is what lies behind our success.”
Akça also emphasized that they desire the spread of wheelchair basketball.
“It made me very happy that there were Gazişehir Gaziantep fans and Fenerbahçe fans in the final match. TRT Spor Yıldız broadcast it on the open channel. It was very nice. We want this sport to spread as much as possible. Our only goal when establishing this branch was to bring disabled people into life. Sports eliminate obstacles for them. “The hall was full at the matches in Yalova. Although it was close, it was an expensive journey, but there were people coming from Istanbul. Families, children, there was a very nice audience profile. We were very happy in that sense.”
Akça also added that they want to support other disability branches.
Kinem Kulbay: We have progressed towards the championship
Kinem Kulbay, the female player of the yellow-dark blue team, stated that they believe in the championship and that their goal in the new season is the Champions League trophy.
Kulbay stated that their success is very important.
“We are proud to be in the Fenerbahce community. We have a very qualified and strong staff. We made 3 transfers this year. They are also successful national team players. They added strength to our strength. We had a good team. Of course, our goal was the championship. We believed in this very much. We progressed on the way to the championship and We’ve reached our goal.”
Kinem Kulbay stated that they left behind a very tiring season.
“Our goal was the championship. We finished the regular season undefeated. We knew that we would have difficulties in the play-off stage. We had tough fights with Galatasaray in the second stage of the play-off. We turned the series we fell behind to 2-1 in our favor and eliminated Galatasaray. Gazişehir Gaziantep is also very It was a tough opponent. Our opponent started the match by resting, we played without rest. We eliminated them and became champions. We were going to participate in the Champions League last year, but it was canceled due to the pandemic. Our goal is to win the championship there, too. This year, we fought in the Champions League and won the championship Fenerbahce. We want to bring in.”
Semih Gorkem Kıyar: The Champions League is already exciting
Semih Görkem Kıyar, one of the players of the champion team, stated that the championship of other basketball teams within the club motivates them.
“Other championships instilled the idea that we should be champions as well. We started the league by aiming for the championship with our teammates at the beginning of the season and finally got the trophy. Our president congratulated us, we did not leave him alone. We promised him. As we promised, we presented the trophy to our community. We became the champion by winning 36 of them. That’s why we are happy and proud. The Champions League is already exciting. I’m sure we will win the trophy there next season. We will win a double championship. I would like to thank all our sponsors for not leaving us alone and for their support. 1907 management, our president and many other people I can’t count Thank you. I’m glad we’re in Fenerbahce. The championships will continue, they can be sure of that.”
