02/07/2017 16:55
Konya ready to host first-ever Men's U17 European Championship
2017 CEV U17 Volleyball European Championship - Men
Konya, Turkey, July 2, 2017. With the first-ever CEV U17 Volleyball European Championship - Men set to get underway in Turkey on Monday, an introductory press conference was held at the competition’s venue, the Konya Metropolitan Municipality Sports and Congress Centre, to preview the prestigious event.
In front of the assembled media were Turkish Volleyball Federation Vice President Ahmet Göksu, CEV Jury President Margaret Ann Fleming, Konya Youth Services and Sports Provincial Director Ömer Ersöz, Konya Metropolitan Municipality Head of Department Cevdet İşbirici, Turkey U17 Coach Hüseyin Düzceler and captain Berkün Eber Üstündağ.
“We are very happy to host the competition organised by CEV for the first time in this age category,” said Ahmet Göksu, Vice President of the Turkish Volleyball Federation. “We would like to thank our host Konya Metropolitan Municipality and everyone who contributed to and supported this tournament. I wish success to all teams participating in the tournament. I invite the people of Konya to fill the stands for this Volleyball party.”
European Volleyball Confederation (CEV) Jury President Margaret Ann Fleming continued the opening statements by adding: “I’m very happy to be here. We attach great importance to this tournament which will be organised for the first time in this age category. Turkey is a country that specialises in hosting international competitions and we believe that this organisation will do its best. I would like to thank everyone, especially the Turkish Volleyball Federation, for their efforts in the realisation of the tournament in Turkey. It is also an important opportunity for Konya.”
Ömer Ersöz, Konya Youth Services and Sports Provincial Director thanked the CEV for giving this competition to Turkey and the Turkish Volleyball Federation for organising it in Konya. He stated that Konya has hosted many important international competitions in recent years and issued his wish for Turkey to lift the trophy.
Indicating that they are happy to host the international tournament, Konya Metropolitan Municipality Head of Department Cevdet İşbirici said: “We are delighted to welcome our guests to the peaceful city of Konya. I wish all of our teams to have a good tournament, I wish our national team much success.”
Turkey Coach Hüseyin Düzceler was also present at the venue and explained his excitement about what lies ahead in the coming days. “Thanks to CEV who gave this competition to Turkey which is being organised for the first time in this age category in Europe and TVF who took the organisation of the event to my country,” he said.
“We have got the right to participate in this tournament due to the 2016 Balkan Championship. In 2014, 2015 and 2016, we have been Balkan champions. Here we will meet high-level and very good teams. We really want to be champions as we are hosts. We are able to use the advantage of playing before our own fans and expect the Konya people to help us.”
Turkey captain Berkün Eber Üstündağ was last to speak in front of a packed audience and said that they have been preparing for this since the beginning of the season. He concluded: “We are very eager to win this championship and want to be on top of Europe.”
The tournament starts at 14:00 local time on Monday with Serbia playing Greece in the first match. Coverage of the matches will be across CEV’s social media platforms with regular updates on Twitter via @CEVEuroVolley.
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