Corendon Sport Talks, reflecting the aviation industry leader Corendon Airlines’ support for sports, continues to host legendary figures of Turkish sports. In the 31st episode of the program, produced by 343 Digital and moderated by Hürriyet Newspaper Sports Director Mehmet Arslan, Eczacıbaşı Dynavit Team Captain and National Libero Simge Aköz was the guest.
Corendon Airlines, which has implemented numerous innovations in the aviation and tourism sectors and flown millions of guests to their dream holiday destinations, is celebrating its 20th anniversary. With the Corendon Sport Talks video series launched in this meaningful year, Corendon Airlines once again highlights its support for sports. Centered on the unifying power of sports, this special project brings inspiring stories of figures who left their mark on Turkish sports history to the screen.
Turkey’s Women’s National Volleyball Team Libero and one of the pioneers of Turkish volleyball, Eczacıbaşı Dynavit Team Captain Simge Aköz, welcomed the new season in the new arena and shared candid insights with Corendon Sport Talks. Describing Eczacıbaşı’s place in Turkish women’s sports as “Turkey’s first women’s movement,” Simge Aköz shared both the excitement of the new arena and the turning points of her career.
Eczacıbaşı Is “Home” for Me
Speaking about the new arena, Simge Aköz said, “Even though it’s new for us too, from the moment we entered, it maintained the warmth and the sincere atmosphere of Eczacıbaşı in Ayazağa. We brought our energy here as well. As I’ve said before, when you mention Eczacıbaşı, many athletes who have played here or passed through consider this place home. We carried that togetherness from our sister Perihan to our brother İsmet and the entire team in the arena. That’s why this is now our new home too.”
Discussing the facilities offered by the new arena, Aköz added, “Ayazağa will always have a very special place for me. But here, there is truly a structure that considers the athlete’s health, comfort, and motivation. With its visual appeal, this arena will make a significant contribution to Turkish volleyball. Playing here will also be very enjoyable.”
“I Want to Be Like You One Day”
The captain, who has won 31 trophies throughout her career, shared the most meaningful compliment she has received: “The thing that makes me happiest is when little girls say, ‘I want to be like you one day.’ At that moment, you realize that you are in an incredible position in their eyes.”
“Keep Moving Forward”
Addressing young volleyball players, Simge Aköz said, “Before I reached this point, I cried, got hurt, and felt disappointed, but I kept moving forward. Never forget the importance of doing what you love and being consistent and determined.”
Patience, Determination, and Mentor Support
Simge Aköz explained how she started volleyball at a very young age and how her talent was noticed: “I was 7 years old when I was discovered during school selection. The reason I was noticed was that I was taller than my peers. Over time, while everyone progressed, I fell a little behind. This period was mentally very challenging for me because scoring as an outside hitter and carrying the fight was another responsibility. At first, I played thinking I would stay in the background, but I was an ambitious athlete and continued as an outside hitter as much as I could.”
She shared a pivotal moment from that period: “During a process when we realized I might not progress to the A team, there was Coach Semra; we call her ‘Semra mom.’ One day she found me crying in the locker room and said, ‘You are very talented, very determined, and I believe you can do this.’ Those words opened a huge door for me. Becoming a libero seemed very distant at first, but I am someone who likes to spread energy on the court, and I continued doing that. I also learned to celebrate for my teammates who score much better.”
Advice for Young Volleyball Players: Determination and Passion
Simge Aköz shared her guidance for young athletes: “Many kids dream of being like us, playing at the same level, and being in the spotlight. But to reach here, I cried, got hurt, and sometimes felt disappointed. What kept me going was my deep love for the game and my determination. A child with determination can succeed, maybe not in volleyball, but in other areas of life.”
Emphasizing the importance of passion, she continued: “Doing what you love and sweating on the court for it gives me mental strength. No matter how well I train, I consciously add it to myself and try to give my best. Being consistent and determined is very important to sustain and advance what you love.”
Simge Aköz’s Pre-Match Ritual
When asked about a special pre-match ritual, Simge Aköz said: “I try not to be too attached to rituals because they often don’t work. But I still can’t give them up. If I’ve been playing well consecutively or had a good training before an important match, I usually put my hair in a bun. Sometimes Elif braids it; if I played well that day, I use that hairstyle again. I have these little rituals.”
“I Can’t Forget the Poland Match”
Sharing one of the unforgettable matches in her career, Simge Aköz’s eyes lit up: “We achieved many great successes with both the national team and Eczacıbaşı. But there is one match that still holds its place for me: the Olympic qualifier against Poland before the 2020 Olympics. The emotion within the team and the spark in our eyes were something rare. Many elite athletes and teams achieve great things, but the feeling among us in that match was unique. For me, it was unforgettable.”
Eczacıbaşı in One Word: ‘Ekol’
Describing Eczacıbaşı in one word, Simge Aköz said “family” and added: “Ekol.”
She also emphasized that Eczacıbaşı provides opportunities for women and girls to become top-level athletes and managers in a country like Turkey: “Providing all these opportunities requires great dedication and vision.”
CEV Championship…
Simge Aköz described the CEV championship: “It was amazing. We played the first match at our home in Ayazağa. The stands were packed. We opened the championship banner in that match; my teammates made it possible, and our club accepted it. We went to Stuttgart with this mentality. We won the first match 3-1, and despite dropping a set, our belief in the championship started that day. Stuttgart is one of the teams we’ve played against for years and incredible competitors; their serves were tough. We knew it wouldn’t be easy, but we fought with belief and won the cup.”
This Season’s Motivation: Unity and Struggle
Simge Aköz summarized the new season goals and team spirit at Eczacıbaşı: “Of course, everyone knows Eczacıbaşı’s place in Turkish and world volleyball. This season, instead of claiming all trophies as usual, we aim to progress with a very young squad by fostering unity in this new formation and in this beautiful arena. I hope we build a strong foundation with this squad over the years and continue adding a few players each year.”
She emphasized the importance of struggle and communication on the court: “This season, our motivation is to give an amazing fight on the court. Matches are won and lost; trophies are won and lost. But building a core squad and infrastructure is truly challenging. That’s why we will focus on the strength of our communication and our aggressive play on the court.”
A Series That Adds Value to Sports: Corendon Sport Talks
Corendon Sport Talks, aiming to offer a fresh perspective on the sports world, featured the following guests in 2025:
Onvo Antalyaspor Head Coach Emre Belözoğlu and Corendon Tourism Group Chairman Yıldıray Karaer
Former Beşiktaş JK President, entrepreneur, and sports executive Hüseyin Yücel, former FIFA referee and football commentator Fırat Aydınus
Muratpaşa Municipality Sports Club Young Girls Volleyball Team members Dora Badem, Yaren Çalışkan, and Selvi Alpaslan
Journalist, host, and football commentator Ersin Düzen; former national footballer and football commentator Nihat Kahveci and his wife, host Fulya Sever Kahveci
Former national basketball player and TBF Sports Director Alper Yılmaz; former national basketball player and Turkey Basketball Federation Deputy President Harun Erdenay
Corendon Alanyaspor Head Coach João Pereira
Professional tour guide, tourism marketing expert, and sustainable tourism volunteer Ceylan Şensoy and her mother, national athlete and coach Çiçek Solon Şensoy
Corendon Alanyaspor Captain, Turkish national footballer Efecan Karaca
Corendon Airlines Tahtalı Run to Sky organizers and Merrell Skyrunner® World Series director Andres Olivera and American professional runner Morgan Eliiot
- Triathlete and content creator Fatih Topçu
- Fenerbahçe Women’s Football Team Captain, Turkish national footballer Yağmur Uraz
- Sports commentator and host Ertem Şener
- Sports commentator, host, and journalist Fuat Akdağ
- Famous actor and host Selçuk Yöntem
- Former national footballer and coach Arda Turan
- Hull City AFC football club owner Acun Ilıcalı
- Polish-German footballer Lukas Podolski
- Turkish coach and former national footballer Mustafa Denizli
- 2024 European Wrestling Championship gold medalist, national wrestler Nesrin Baş
