It has gone viral in the US – and beyond – the saying of Ergin Ataman from his big interview in Turkey, with his coach Panathinaikos AKTOR asking for a match with the Boston Celtics for the world title!
The Turkish technician, speaking to “TV100”, referred, among other things, to the phone call he received from Kyriakos Mitsotakis after winning the Euroleague, as well as for the discussions he recently had with him Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
At the same time, he also answered in rumours which they wanted him to have intercede for the collaboration of the football Panathinaikos with his good friend, Fatih Terim.
Ergin Ataman’s statements in detail:
About the visa problem: “The visa problem hurts me a lot. My family cannot come to Greece. Many letters have been written. I am Ergin Ataman and yet they put me in the queue for a visa. They wait and then the requests are rejected. Is it so difficult to make some criteria for this situation?’
On his relationship with the Greeks: “People in Greece are very warm, they love me very much and appreciate us from the bottom of their hearts. They are proud of us for being Turks. That’s real appreciation.”
For headphones in the 4th final: “There was a match where we were 2-1 behind Olympiacos. I wore it as a charm. When I wore it in the Fenerbahce match we were 2-1 down. There are a lot of insults, especially before the match. I wore them so I wouldn’t hear them.”
For Kyriakos Mitsotakis: “After the EuroLeague final, the secretary of the prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, called me and asked if I was available. That day I was on the beach from morning until night. I saw the message later, around 6pm. Half an hour later Kyriakos Mitsotakis called me and thanked me. He thanked me for being in the country and for the smoothness I have created between the two countries.”
On his meeting with Erdogan: “While I was eating lunch, I received a text that the president was coming to the embassy in half an hour and that he wanted to see me. We had a very nice conversation with the president. I am a person of sports without political aspirations”.
On whether he suggested Fatih Terim: “No, I didn’t suggest him. In Greece, the teams of the same club in football and basketball are independent. Maybe my statement to hire a Turkish coach led him to this decision.”
Source: Sport Fm
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