By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
On the occasion of the reports regarding cases of American players that are getting propositions from the Turkish federation in order for them to get the citizenship and compete as naturalized players with that country’s national team in the next tournaments, a question arises.
Does the men’s national team of Turkey need a naturalized, non-Turkish player at this point in time?
No way!
It’s the first time (putting aside the ethical side of the matter in a time of rampant professionalism) when, in competitive terms, then answer is so simple.
Turkey has to do only one thing and it is the perfect time to do this! To trust their rich homegrown talent, to have faith in the “golden generations” that will increasingly frame the men’s team and be patient.
Through this strategy, the results will be beneficial and will make everyone in the country proud. The people, the players, the teams, the athletes themselves that will bring success to their country.
It really is provocative to be discussing something like this at a time when Turkey are active champions with the U20s and the class of those born in 1994-5 has such prospects as Cedi Osman, Metin Turen, Emircan Kosut, Kartal Ozmirak and so many others.
It is pointless when the U18 team is the European champion two times in a row! With the generation of those born in ’96-’97 they have talents such as Egemen Guven, Furkan Korkmaz, Berk Ugurlu, Okben Ulubai and so many others.
These generations that have proven they have excellent raw materials and the way they will grow is a matter of the federation’s and the clubs’ development program, together with some international players that have already been maturing, is the wealth of Turkish basketball.
The base for future success. Not top class naturalized players that can contribute in 1-2 big tournaments and then depart after the evolution of the homegrown big talents and their identification with the national team has been put at risk.