Eczacıbaşı Sports Club celebrates its 60th anniversary, announces championship as new season goal

Eczacıbaşı Sports Club celebrated its 60th anniversary with a special program that brought together the names who contributed to the club's history and today's athletes. Hosted by Faruk Eczacıbaşı, the event held at the Eczacıbaşı Sports Club Sports Hall was presented by Banu Yelkovan and Bağış Erten.

Following the celebration, the 2026-2027 season opening of Eczacıbaşı Peron İstanbul took place. Sharing its new season goals, the club emphasized that the main objective for the team, which will compete in the Vodafone Sultanlar League and European cups, is the championship.

60 YEARS OF SPORTS CULTURE

Founded in 1966, Eczacıbaşı Sports Club has contributed to Turkish sports in the branches of women's and men's volleyball, basketball, table tennis, and chess. The club has trained more than 12 thousand licensed athletes to date.

Standing out for its long-standing support for the development of women's sports, Eczacıbaşı Sports Club was deemed worthy of the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) “Women and Sports World Trophy” in 2018. The club became the first sports club in the world to receive this award.

In the program, the club's story was told in five sections titled “The Dream is Ours,” “The Courage is Ours,” “The Memory is Ours,” “The Success is Ours,” and “The Future is Ours.” Archive footage, memories of athletes from different eras, and stories of names who have contributed to the club were featured in the event.

The celebration was attended by athletes, coaches, and managers who served in different periods of the club, as well as sponsors, stakeholders, media members, and guests from the sports world. Among the guests were Eczacıbaşı Holding Chairman of the Board Bülent Eczacıbaşı and Turkish Volleyball Federation President Mehmet Akif Üstündağ.

Drawing attention to the decisive role of clubs in the point reached by Turkish volleyball, Üstündağ said, “Turkish volleyball is experiencing historic days. Turkish volleyball is number one in the world and in Europe.” Referring to Faruk Eczacıbaşı's contributions, Üstündağ stated that clubs are the cornerstone of this success.

Eczacıbaşı Sports Club President Faruk Eczacıbaşı stated that the support given to women's volleyball is not limited to the goal of sporting success. Eczacıbaşı said that they aim to train athletes who will be role models for Turkish girls and young women.

CHAMPIONSHIP GOAL IN THE NEW SEASON

In his assessment of the new season, Faruk Eczacıbaşı stated that the team is a representative of a 60-year sports culture and said, “Of course, our goal in the new season is the championship. We are aware that it is not easy to compete in Turkey, but all our hope and goal is to be the champion.”

Eczacıbaşı Peron İstanbul Head Coach Giulio Cesare Bregoli also said that the team wants to put struggle, commitment, and the desire to win on the court. Bregoli said, “What we are looking for is definitely to win. I am not saying it will be easy; it will definitely not be easy.”

Team captain Simge Aköz expressed that being the captain of Eczacıbaşı is a great pride for her, while Selin Adalı, Ezel Balık, and Elif Şahin shared their excitement for the new season. Stating that the team has a five-trophy goal ahead, Elif Şahin said, “We want to win all 5 trophies in front of us.”

Eczacıbaşı Peron İstanbul will face Nilüfer Belediyespor away in its first match in the Vodafone Sultanlar League on Saturday, October 3. The team will play its first match in front of its fans on Sunday, October 11.

News Source : 12punto