Election day at TVF: Mehmet Akif Ustundag or Gokhan Dincer?
The Turkish Volleyball Federation’s (TVF) Ordinary General Assembly with Elections will take place today in Ankara. The congress, which will begin at 10:00 AM at Crowne Plaza, will see current president Mehmet Akif Ustundag competing against Gokhan Dincer, the former president of Bursa Buyuksehir Belediyespor Club, for the presidency.
Ustundag, who has been president since 2016, is banking on the success achieved in women’s volleyball, both at club and national levels, as his strongest argument. In recent years, Turkish women’s volleyball, led by Fenerbahce, Vakifbank, and Eczacibasi, has won numerous European championships, while the national teams were victorious in all tournaments they participated in last year and reached the semifinals in this year’s Paris Olympics.
Criticism from Opponents
On the other hand, Gokhan Dincer’s camp argues that Mehmet Akif Ustundag’s administration is using the success of the “Sultans of the Net” to cover up the decline of Turkish volleyball. The main points of criticism from Ustundag’s opponents are:
1.The Efeler League is being played with 13 teams. Most recently, Develi Belediyesi withdrew from the league, and Izmir’s Arkas Spor has decided to withdraw next season. Several other teams are also at risk of withdrawing.
2.Turkish men’s volleyball is declining in the world rankings each year.
3.There are serious shortcomings in youth development. The sponsorship and advertising revenues earned from the brand value of women’s volleyball are being allocated to clubs at a very low level.
