Turkey vows to bring in more star players in sports

Turkey has been focusing on a policy to produce many more star players in sports branches including football and basketball.

Turkish Youth and Sports Minister Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoğlu said late on May 39 that Turkey should profit its massive young population, which is 20 million, to bring in many successful athletes like NBA player Cedi Osman.

Kasapoğlu talked to Cleveland Cavaliers' Turkish small forward Osman on Instagram.

Referring to this youth population, Kasapoğlu said that Turkey has to discover new young talents and encourage many others for sustainable development in sports.

"We care about a policy for domestic and national production. Of course, we respect successful foreign athletes but we also have remarkable talents [in the field of sports]," Kasapoğlu said.

"You [Cedi Osman] are representing us abroad in an honorable and successful way. Why don't we have more Cedi Osmans? It's our goal. In football, we have successful compatriots playing in Europe now. We should have more [successful] of them," he stated.

North Macedonian born Osman, 25, joined the Cavaliers in 2017 as the Turkish international is currently spending his third season in this franchise.

Before the Cavaliers, he played for a Turkish powerhouse, Anadolu Efes.

This season Osman averaged 11 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game in the Cavaliers.

Improved facilities, talent project

Kasapoğlu said that Turkey offers all opportunities to youngsters in the field of sports with nationwide superior sports facilities such as pools, tennis courts, and newly built modern stadiums.

In addition to the sports grounds, Turkey has a talent scout project in every sports branch as the country applies it...