TURKEY: TURKEY AND FRENCH BASKETBALL TEAMS PREPARTE FOR EUROPEAN BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Record ID: 584787

  • Title: TURKEY: TURKEY AND FRENCH BASKETBALL TEAMS PREPARTE FOR EUROPEAN BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
  • Date: 29th August 2001
  • Summary: ANKARA, TURKEY (AUGUST 29, 2001)(REUTERS) 1. VARIOUS OF THE TURKISH TEAMS TRAINING 2. A FAST BREAK ATTEMPT FROM IBRAHIM KUTLUAY (AEK-Greece) 3. (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) CAPTAIN ORHUN ENE SAYING "We have very big goals, we know that it is not easy to achieve but all we are experienced players. The hardness to achieve our goals doesn't frighten us. We will do our best somehow. Our succes is going to be valued after the tournament whether or not there is succes, but all we believe that we will be successful. 4. TURKISH FORWARDS PRACTICING FAST BREAK 5. (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) CAPTAIN ORHUN ENE SAYING: "Yugoslavia and Italy are a little bit more powerfull then the others, but if we can use our homeside advantage correctly we have the strength to win defeat them. God wills no any other accident loss ejects us till we face with one of them - Italy or Yugoslavia. 6. VARIOUS TEAM TRAINING 7. TURKISH TEAM OFFICIALS WATCHING TRAINING 8. VARIOUS OF THE FRENCH BASKETBALL TEAM TRAINING 9. (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH NATIONAL BASKETBALL TEAM COACH ALAIN WEISZ SAYING: Both teams -Israel and France- represents their countries, both of us will play to win. Israeli team have some problems but we are fullfilled, we dont have any problems, we are the real French team." 10. TACTICAL TRAINING OF THE FRENCH TEAM 11. (SOUNDBITE)(French) FRENCH NATIONAL BASKETBALL TEAM COACH ALAIN WEISZ SAYING: We are the best ever team in French basketball history, we have no injured or suspended players. 12. VARIOUS OF TACTICAL TRAINING Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 13th September 2001 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ANKARA, TURKEY
  • Country: Turkey
  • Reuters ID: LVA3541ZPSLEFIJ59C1AAHNXDU92
  • Story Text: The men's European Basketball championships begin in
    Turkey on Friday (August 31) and the Turkish side will be
    strengthened by the strong support of their home fans.



    Basketball is one of Turkey's most popular sports, and
    their national side will have the added bonus of home support
    as they attempt to win the European championships.

    Turkey's top players are forwards Mirsad Turkcan and
    Hidayet Turkoglu - both former NBA rookies - forward Ibrahim
    Kutluay, who plays for the Greek side AEK, and pivot Husyin
    Besok who has signed with Maccabi Tel Aviv, the Final Four
    champions.

    Team captain Orhun Ene believes their goal will be
    difficult to achieve, but they will succeed.

    "We have very big goals, we know that it is not easy to
    achieve but we are all experienced players. The hardness to
    achieve our goals doesn't frighten us. We will do our best
    somehow. Our success is going to be valued after the
    tournament whether or not there is success, but we all believe
    that we will be successful," said Orhun Ene.

    Ene feels that the main opposition will come from Italy
    and Yugoslavia, but believes the home crowds will play a large
    part in Turkey's success.

    "Yugoslavia and Italy are a little bit more powerful then
    the others, but if we can use our homeside advantage correctly
    we have the strength to
    defeat them,"said Ene.

    Turkey's first match is against Latvia on Friday.

    Sixteen teams are taking part, and the four groups for the
    preliminary round are: Group 1: Ukraine, Israel, France,
    Lithuania. Group 2: Latvia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey. Group 3:
    Estonia, Crotia,Yugoslavia, Germany. Group 4: Bosnia &
    Herzigovena, Greece, Italy, Russia.

    The French team will play its first game against Israel on
    Friday (August 31).

    Coach Alain Weisz said their team is satisfied after the
    last training session on Thursday.

    "Both teams - Israel and France - represent their
    countries, both of us will play to win. The Israeli team have
    some problems but we are
    satisfied, we don't have any problems, we are the real French
    team," said Weisz.

    The coach also justified his team as the best ever in
    French basketball history.

    "We are the best ever team in French basketball history,
    we have no injured or suspended players." said Weisz.

    The French team's best scorer, Antonio Rigaudeau, with
    15.5 per game, and best rebounder Jim Bilba, with 6.1 per game,
    will be their most destructive weapons against Israel, Ukraine and
    Lithuania.


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