BAHCELIEVLER - Three years ago, four of the best Turkish three cushion players decided to make a top team in Bahcelievler (Istanbul) and try to enter the European competition. Tayfun Tasdemir became the leader of the team including Lütfi Cenet, Murat Naci Coklu and Adnan Yüksel: all well-known international players with a winning mentality.
The first huge success of the team was seen last year, when the Turks won the European Cup and beat the supposed unbeatable Agipi team for the first time after eight victories in a row. The name Bahcelievler is known all over now in European billiard countries.
Kozoom looked forward with Tayfun Tasdemir to the European Cup final, which will be played this weekend in Bahcelievler's Sports center.
The six teams that have advanced, meet there in the battle for the European cup.
Kozoom/Frits Bakker: We all know the name of Bahcelievler since its victory last year, but what is it actually, a billiard club, a billiard café, a sports club?
Tayfun Tasemir: ,,It's not just a billiard club: in the sports center of Bahcelievler are more than 40 different sports clubs. We, with the billiard club, are part of this big club.''
Kozoom/FB: Who is the owner or the sponsor of the billiards club? And do they play club in a big room? With how many tables?
TT: ,,The president of all the clubs is Yufuf Yildirim. We have a sports center where we can play in one of the rooms with four billiard tables.''
Kozoom/FB: How often do you meet with the team Tasdemir, Cenet, Coklu and Yüksel? Is it in Turkey as in the Netherlands, Belgium, France and other countries, where teams meet each other in a competition over a whole year?
TT: ,,We do not perform in a competition over a whole year, but in one week with 28 teams, all of which play against each other.''
Kozoom/FB: In which part of Istanbul is Bahcelievler? And are there many billiard players and supporters there in the area? Do you expect a big crowd for the European Cup this weekend?
TT: ,,Bahcelievler is in the European part of Istanbul, where many billiard fans live. I think there will be a full house for the European Cup, like for the World Cup that was held here last year.'‘
Kozoom/FB: How many years are you playing for this team, Tayfun? And the other three players?
TT: ,,We started three years ago with this team, in the second year we became European champion, this is our third year. And we come together in the week that we play for the championship in 28 games.'‘
Kozoom/FB: Are you sponsored by the state with this top team, the federation, or only by the club itself?
TT: ,,Only by the club.''
Kozoom/FB: How is your season so far? What can we expect from you in this tournament?
TT: ,,I feel in a very good form, actually since one and a half years. So I will try to be even better now.''
Kozoom/FB: And the other players in the team?
TT: ,,As the team captain I trust my players. I know they are well prepared for the European Cup.'‘
Kozoom/FB: What are the chances for Bahcelievler to win the cup again?
TT: ,,We are ready for it, especially now that it is for our own audience, to take the title would be a historical victory.''
Kozoom/FB: Which teams do you consider as the main candidates for the title?
TT: ,,The big rivals for us are Agipi, BC Deurne and FC Porto.''
