Halkbank
These outstanding players were joined by another familiar face there in Turkey’s capital city, Radostin Stoytchev, the Bulgarian-born head coach who was at the helm of TRENTINO Volley as the Italians wrote a unique success story winning 14 titles in the past years, including three editions of the CEV Volleyball Champions League (2009, 2010, 2011) and four FIVB Club World Championships (uninterruptedly since 2009 to 2012).
The management of Halkbank ANKARA – a club that was established in 1983 to develop Volleyball in Turkey – has invested a lot of money to make sure that their first CL appearance will be one to remember. Kaziyski, born in 1984, stands at 202 cm and was a long-time member of TRENTINO Volley similarly to Osmany Juantorena, the Cuban-born spiker who is the nephew of 1976 double Olympic champion (400 and 800 m) Alberto. Two more players were transferred from TRENTINO to Halkbank, namely Brazilian setter Raphael (born 1979) and Greek spiker Mitar Tzourits, who stands at 211 cm and in Italy played as middle-blocker. The last addition to the roster is Turkey’s rising star Burutay Subasi who previously played for Arkas IZMIR and made the final four of the CEV Volleyball Champions League in 2012, ending there in fourth place after losing the bronze medal game to TRENTINO Volley. Though born in 1990, Subasi is one of the most experienced Turkish players with a total of 250 caps with the national team. Halkbank has also contracted setter Vefa Yilmaz who last year made the semis of the CEV Volleyball Cup with Maliye Milli Piyango ANKARA and has played in each one of Turkey’s strongest clubs.
Halkbank ANKARA started these past days their preparations for what will be a very busy season as the team is set to compete in Turkey’s national league and Cup as well as in the CEV Volleyball Champions League. Though some players are missing for they are busy with their national teams and preparing for the upcoming European Championship, those who have moved to Ankara are trying to adjust to the city and have already had some high-tempo training sessions under the guidance of coach Stoytchev. Halkbank will try to add more trophies to their showcase after the team won Turkey’s national league for five consecutive seasons between 1992 and 1996.
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