Written by İsmail DEMİRAY…
During the times when Tuncaspor was most successful, it was required by law to compete in at least 4 sports branches in addition to football, as is the case for every club. In those years, apart from football, volleyball, wrestling, boxing, handball and basketball were also implemented in Tuncaspor.
Gülistan Şenyurt, who made the greatest effort for basketball, tried to get every youth interested in it to join Edirne basketball by issuing a license and directing them to Tuncaspor or other club.
He spent his years playing in Tuncaspor as a basketball player and contributed a lot to Edirne basketball. Representative for 26 years Erol”, we spoke with Erol Ergülen:
PLAYER, NATIONAL REFEREE, PROVINCIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF BASKETBALL
“I was born in Edirne in 1959. I started elementary school in Şehit Asım, and after graduating from Atatürk Secondary School, I left Edirne High School in the second grade.
I started playing basketball at Atatürk Secondary School, thanks to our physical education teacher Mustafa Altınordu. I play on the school team from time to time. Then, given the opportunity by our teacher, whose nickname is ‘Deli Ekrem’, I played in the Edirne High School team for a long time, and we participated in tournaments.
After high school, our paths crossed in Tuncaspor at the suggestion of my teacher Gülistan. They took my license and I played volleyball and basketball with a Tuncaspor jersey. I served the team for about three years, first as a player and then as captain, in 1975/76/77.
While I was playing, I served as the team’s guard. I also attended football training in Tuncaspor for a short time during coach Ferhat’s time. In other words, I played sports in three branches with a Tuncaspor jersey in those years. My brother-in-law Erkan Eren was Tuncaspor’s defender for many years.
SUBSTITUTES ALSO RECEIVE TIME AND ARE BROUGHT TO THE TEAM
During the years I played, Ayşekadın Youth Union, Yeni İmaret and Edirnespor had basketball teams. Although we usually play our matches in Mimar Sinan, sometimes we play our matches in Ekrem Demiray. At that time, matches were played in two periods of 20 minutes each.
No matter how good the team is, time is given to the reserves and they are asked to play on the field to contribute to their development. That is why there is no difference between the first 5 and the reserves, and with care, the importance is given to the young people who are on the field rather than a reserve.
When I played for Tuncaspor, we trained ourselves because our team didn’t have a coach. Burhan Aytekin was our teacher for a short time. Murat Erbaş also helped us during training when our time conflicted with other teams.
I’M FROM MY MOTHER’S CHICKEN
I am from Kıyık on my mother’s side. It is a great privilege to wear the Tuncaspor jersey for those who live in Edirne. At that time, there were two idol teams with Tuncaspor, one was led by our brother Kel Mustafa, who was a financeman, and he was someone we respected a lot.
Kıyık’s Gülistan Şenyurt, Ayşekadın’s Kel Mustafa are valuable people who contributed a lot to indoor and field sports in Edirne, added value, and ensured the spread and development of sports in Edirne.
Gülistan Şenyurt made great efforts in all sports branches. He literally caught every young person with talent, issued a license and encouraged them to do sports. The Gülistan teacher would pick us up from our homes with his car, we would sit on top of each other, in each other’s arms, and go to his car for training and matches. On the way home, he wouldn’t let us take a shower and would leave the house one by one. He would personally buy our fruit, soda, and water, take it to his car, and deliver it to us. Gülistan Şenyurt is a true sports volunteer.
In our time, uniform, shoes and socks are enough. Now I watch with amazement that money is made in amateur sports. When the requirement of 5 branches of clubs was abolished, basketball and volleyball in Edirne went to a great decline. All clubs first closed their basketball and volleyball branches during this time.
If Tuncaspor builds a basketball branch now, I will give all the financial and moral support I can. I will be the general captain, find a coach, I want to create every opportunity related to basketball for Tuncaspor.
OKANDAN ÇEKVER IS MY REFEREE IDOL
When I returned from military service in 1980, I started playing in Tuncaspor with the suggestion of my teacher Gülistan. We play our matches at Ekrem Demiray because of the renovations at Mimar Sinan. Naim Köker, who was a basketball referee (later became the Provincial Director of Youth and Sports), was also a referee with Okandan Çekver. I used to watch Okandan Çevker in all the matches and my desire to become a referee was formed while watching him.
We go to Ekrem Demiray’s game, the referee of the game Naim Köker came to me and said: ‘I will give you 10 minutes, then I will send you out of the game, look at your teammates you are playing with, young people, from now on it’s time for you to be the referee. “The basketball referee seminar opens next week, you can get your education from there and become a referee,” he said.
The game started, in the 10th minute I passed him, he extended his shoulder and we collided, he disqualified me. Our president Gülistan Şenyurt caused an uproar, asking ‘how can you throw our player?’ I left the field laughing and completed my paperwork at the beginning of the week and submitted my petition to attend the referee seminar.
I BECAME A NATIONAL REFEREE
Our seminar teacher is Mr. Erdoğan from Eskişehir. After our Edirne provincial representative Oğuz Simer resigned, Yalçın Gökay took over. I continued as a referee in Bursa, where I went because of my brother’s work. I continued in Bursa for two years, I saw what the referee fight was like in Bursa. I was promoted to the national referee in Bursa.
I like the referee. I prioritize my refereeing efforts over all my work. I try to improve myself by following all developments regarding refereeing.
After the referee, I became the Edirne Basketball Provincial Representative in 1987. I held this position for 26 years until 2013. After finishing my duty, I am willing to participate in all indoor sports, official and voluntary, in all sports organizations.
In my business life, I ran Edirnespor Club Club, whose management I took over in 1986, for 38 years until 2024.
I love basketball very much, I have served at all levels and I am very happy with that. “I think if I was born again, I would be involved in basketball again.”
(Tomorrow: Epilogue)