Ergin Ataman, head coach of Anadolu Efes, who finished the 2022-2023 season as Turkish Basketball Super League champion, made remarkable statements.
HERE ARE ERGIN ATAMA’S EXPLANATIONS:
“See you next year at OAKA.” Ataman congratulated Pınar Karşıyaka and said that the green-red team fought very well in the play-offs and reached the final. Ataman explained that there is a heavy atmosphere in Mustafa Kemal Atatürk Karşıyaka’s sports hall and said:
“Winning the third game and being champions is very meaningful. We remembered that we were a team again in the play-offs, our injuries have healed, we suffered some injuries during the play-off process. We haven’t taken a step back.” This season, two cups were played in Turkey, the President’s Cup at the beginning of the season is in our museum, the Championship at the end of the season is in our museum. Of course I’m proud of that. I’m sorry for the Europa League. We had a dream, we wanted to do something that nobody else in history could do, but we failed. We didn’t make the playoffs, we could have achieved a lot if we could have done it there. That was not the case. It’s not easy for me either, after all these years. Since my youth I have not worked like a professional in this club, but like an amateur. I would be happy if I could be called the legend of Anadolu Efes in the story in the future. Such a change was necessary. What can I decide on my own? In life you have to take some risks, some changes. All my life I have been challenged. This is a new challenge for me. I will try to represent my country in Greece in the best possible way. Anadolu Efes is my home in basketball, my club. I wish them every success in the coming season.”
Noting that they’ve been writing a great story for five years, Ataman said: “Friends of documentaries are here too. They started the season to win their third Europa League championship, that didn’t happen. It ended in drama.” We didn’t succeed. For the first time we had an unsuccessful Europa League season at Anadolu Efes. “Everything is over in Anadolu Efes, Ergin Ataman is already leaving, this team will not finish the season, he will leave.” As soon as it was said that we had risen from the 42-point defeat by Fenerbahçe Beko, we found each other reminded of our character.
Ataman stated that he could not remember how many trophies he won in his five-year adventure in Anadolu Efes, saying:
“My conscience is at ease, I am at ease. It’s not easy for me, it’s a challenge. This will be difficult for Sarp (his son). Sarp went through this process with us, he is a very hard-nosed Anadolu Efes.” Fan, supporter of Anadolu Efes. He is most upset about this breakup. There are these in this profession, in this job. We’ll go, maybe one day we’ll come back, maybe we’ll come back from there with a trophy, maybe we’ll do that “I’m going to another place, but we have a new mission with the Turkish national team, there are Olympic qualifiers . That’s why I’m still here, I’m here. I’m going alone, Sarp will continue to represent me here.”
