Making their mark on home soil
Thursday 10 February 2005
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By Türker Tozar
UEFA-CAF Meridian Cup hosts Turkey have made the most of home advantage, winning their first three matches against Egypt, Nigeria and Sierra Leone and playing some entertaining football. A number of players have caught the eye, including captain Ugur Uçar and forward Güven Güneri.
Professional impact
Ugur signed professional terms with Galatasaray SK in 2002 and made his first-team debut last season, subsequently impressing against Bursaspor and Konyaspor last month. The 17-year-old looks set to fill the void at right-back left by the departure of Fatih Akyel. Güven, meanwhile, is a regular in Fenerbahçe SK's Under-18 side, where he is usually deployed as a striker. At the Meridian Cup, however, Turkey coach Metin Tekin has used the fast and skilful forward on the flanks supporting a lone frontman. uefa.com spoke to both players about the Meridian Cup and their hopes for the future.
uefa.com: What do you think of the tournament?
Güven Güneri: We made a good start with a 3-2 win against Egypt and then we beat Nigeria and Sierra Leone. Our target before the tournament was to win all our matches and we want to achieve this by defeating Cameroon in our last game.
Ugur Uçar: We have won all three matches so far, and taking points after playing good football is as important as winning itself. We are not thinking about anything except winning the remaining match.
uefa.com: Which match challenged you most?
Ugur: Egypt were very difficult opponents, although our passing game was also disrupted by the pitch. But credit to Egypt, they have quality players and were well organised.
Güven: Egypt really challenged us and we had some concentration problems after scoring. But against Sierra Leone we played our worst football, I think. Their players were very comfortable with the ball and we were lucky that they wasted a lot of chances.
uefa.com: What do you think of the teams you have played?
Güven: We are so used to playing European sides, so it really is a change for us, although we already knew a little of what to expect. In my opinion, African football is very enjoyable to watch. There is a long career in front of us, so the experience gained here will be a big help in the future.
Ugur: The playing system of all our opponents was a big surprise for us as we knew little about them before the tournament. The players are definitely quicker than the Europeans.
uefa.com: Do you think this tournament will improve your club football?
Güven: Definitely. Day by day we are improving and tournaments like this are vital for our development. This competition will also help us gain confidence, which is very important in club football.
Ugur: First, we are gaining international experience at Under-18 level, an opportunity our players did not have in the past. This is a very positive step for us. When we start playing in European club competitions, we will especially benefit from having played African sides.
uefa.com: What are your hopes for the future?
Güven: We are working hard to prove that Turkish football's future is bright and show people that new talents are coming through. I hope we have a lot to give. Why shouldn't we see Güven Güneri or Ugur Uçar playing for the Turkish senior team in the near future?
Ugur: This side has been together for two years and our aim is to continue this successful run and reach the senior level. Both at club and international level we are going to do our best to make this happen.
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