Ankara, Turkey – I have been putting the puzzle pieces together to help create the picture that is the problem for my team. Anka SK has had some unfortunate luck lately and a lot of the problems come down to politics. These problems have prevented us from moving into our new flat and also getting practice time. But there has been some good news. I was told today that the schedule has been finalized! But still no practice time for us. And here are some reasons.
Last season Anka brought in some import players that I will not mention who they are and what countries they are from, but say that they didn’t represent their countries well and left a black eye on the Anka organization. The incident of course has mixed views from both sides but the gist of the incident was that there was a bar brawl that was fuelled by heavy drinking and ignorance on both sides. The result was a completely demolished bar, trips to the hospital and police involvement. Anka paid for all damages, which was very high. What happened next is a little fuzy in some parts but from what I have pieced together is that a member of the Turkish Ice Hockey Federation (TBHF) wanted to resolve the situation fast and quickly issued the Anka import players their release papers and told them to leave the country because the police were getting involved. Anka withheld the players paycheques due to their departure and the damages caused at the bar and at the players flat. This caused the players to file complaints with the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) for no payment and some other complaints they had once they returned to their countries. The member of the TBHF then instituted a hold on Anka from bringing in replacement import players and Anka couldn’t compete with the rest of the teams and soon fell to the bottom of the league.
During the season there was a lot of tension between Anka and the TBHF and some other incidents occurred that forced Anka to take the TBHF to court. Anka won the court decision and some of the TBHF members were replaced, except for the one individual that issued the import players their releases, he stayed on. It is important to note that Anka is one of only two private teams in the Super League. The rest of the clubs are funded through government programs and have do not have to worry about money problems. The government of Turkey gives the TBHF money to operate and give to the private clubs. There are other private clubs in Turkey, but they don’t have Super League teams and no government teams operate youth clubs, only the private clubs do so it is important to keep the private clubs well funded because the future of Turkish hockey relies on them. Anka has built itself into a strong Super League team and club in Turkey. So strong that they hold more votes than any other team in the Federation, which means they can be viewed as a threat to the TBHF.
This summer the TBHF issued new rules allowing Super League teams to carry a maximum of five import players but only three can be on the ice at one time (should be interesting to see how they police this during a game). So Anka signed myself, three Swedish players (two played Division 1 last year), and a Russian. The Swedes have been here for over four weeks (not their fault but false information from their agent), I just completed my second week, and the Russian arrives tomorrow. The head coach who is from America and has very extensive coaching resume in Europe, has been here since early September. Practices have started for the other Super League clubs except for us and the other private club (who holds the second most votes in the Federation). The only time have seen the ice while in Turkey has been walking to the rink to sit in the stands and watch painstakingly as other teams practice.
In September all the Super League teams had to have their papers brought in for import players (passports, contracts, etc.) so the league can start processing transfers. My Coach and GM brought all the proper documents into the member of TBHF for processing on the proper date (one of the only teams to bring ALL the proper paperwork). The member that was responsible for receiving the documents and forwarding them is that very same member who sent away the import players last year. So the papers were never sent in. Anka was fined a lot of money by the TBHF for not sending in the papers in time which arrived somehow a week later by certified mail. Anka has refused to pay the fine and this has caused the TBHF to delay on getting practice times arranged because the problem has been slow to resolve. Anka has also brought up the fact that the member of the TBHF that tampered with the papers could be charged by the police but they don’t want to do that because that would just cause more problems and embarrass both sides. So with that threat and the fact that Anka has the strongest voting power; a person would think that the problem would be resolved quickly but not in Turkey. The clubs are a little reluctant to join with Anka to go against the TBHF for two reasons: fear and our import players. Teams and some Federation members are hoping that this process drags out long enough that I and the other import players become fed up and leave. This would cause Anka to have another losing season and more importantly lose some of their voting power.
The Swedes patience is a little thinner than mine since they have been here so much longer, but we are hoping something happens soon. Anka is trying their best to look after us. We have three amazing meals a day at a little cafe, a nice place to stay (a little tight since it is the coaches flat), beds, hot water, washing machine, wireless internet, gym memberships, and a beautiful city. This week the President of Anka took me to the flat they are close to purchasing for the players. It is huge: five bedrooms (two with walk in closets), two bathrooms, two floors, four stories up, fully furnished kitchen, two balconies overlooking the neighbourhood, and a huge living room. In the meantime, the Swedes and I bide our time between the gym, playing cards in the cafe, and walking our neighbourhood hoping that we will practice next week. We have been told that Monday is a decision day and if I hear anything before than I will post it! I cannot wait until we play because now I want nothing more than to crush every team we play and win the championship.
Last season Anka brought in some import players that I will not mention who they are and what countries they are from, but say that they didn’t represent their countries well and left a black eye on the Anka organization. The incident of course has mixed views from both sides but the gist of the incident was that there was a bar brawl that was fuelled by heavy drinking and ignorance on both sides. The result was a completely demolished bar, trips to the hospital and police involvement. Anka paid for all damages, which was very high. What happened next is a little fuzy in some parts but from what I have pieced together is that a member of the Turkish Ice Hockey Federation (TBHF) wanted to resolve the situation fast and quickly issued the Anka import players their release papers and told them to leave the country because the police were getting involved. Anka withheld the players paycheques due to their departure and the damages caused at the bar and at the players flat. This caused the players to file complaints with the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) for no payment and some other complaints they had once they returned to their countries. The member of the TBHF then instituted a hold on Anka from bringing in replacement import players and Anka couldn’t compete with the rest of the teams and soon fell to the bottom of the league.
During the season there was a lot of tension between Anka and the TBHF and some other incidents occurred that forced Anka to take the TBHF to court. Anka won the court decision and some of the TBHF members were replaced, except for the one individual that issued the import players their releases, he stayed on. It is important to note that Anka is one of only two private teams in the Super League. The rest of the clubs are funded through government programs and have do not have to worry about money problems. The government of Turkey gives the TBHF money to operate and give to the private clubs. There are other private clubs in Turkey, but they don’t have Super League teams and no government teams operate youth clubs, only the private clubs do so it is important to keep the private clubs well funded because the future of Turkish hockey relies on them. Anka has built itself into a strong Super League team and club in Turkey. So strong that they hold more votes than any other team in the Federation, which means they can be viewed as a threat to the TBHF.
This summer the TBHF issued new rules allowing Super League teams to carry a maximum of five import players but only three can be on the ice at one time (should be interesting to see how they police this during a game). So Anka signed myself, three Swedish players (two played Division 1 last year), and a Russian. The Swedes have been here for over four weeks (not their fault but false information from their agent), I just completed my second week, and the Russian arrives tomorrow. The head coach who is from America and has very extensive coaching resume in Europe, has been here since early September. Practices have started for the other Super League clubs except for us and the other private club (who holds the second most votes in the Federation). The only time have seen the ice while in Turkey has been walking to the rink to sit in the stands and watch painstakingly as other teams practice.
In September all the Super League teams had to have their papers brought in for import players (passports, contracts, etc.) so the league can start processing transfers. My Coach and GM brought all the proper documents into the member of TBHF for processing on the proper date (one of the only teams to bring ALL the proper paperwork). The member that was responsible for receiving the documents and forwarding them is that very same member who sent away the import players last year. So the papers were never sent in. Anka was fined a lot of money by the TBHF for not sending in the papers in time which arrived somehow a week later by certified mail. Anka has refused to pay the fine and this has caused the TBHF to delay on getting practice times arranged because the problem has been slow to resolve. Anka has also brought up the fact that the member of the TBHF that tampered with the papers could be charged by the police but they don’t want to do that because that would just cause more problems and embarrass both sides. So with that threat and the fact that Anka has the strongest voting power; a person would think that the problem would be resolved quickly but not in Turkey. The clubs are a little reluctant to join with Anka to go against the TBHF for two reasons: fear and our import players. Teams and some Federation members are hoping that this process drags out long enough that I and the other import players become fed up and leave. This would cause Anka to have another losing season and more importantly lose some of their voting power.
The Swedes patience is a little thinner than mine since they have been here so much longer, but we are hoping something happens soon. Anka is trying their best to look after us. We have three amazing meals a day at a little cafe, a nice place to stay (a little tight since it is the coaches flat), beds, hot water, washing machine, wireless internet, gym memberships, and a beautiful city. This week the President of Anka took me to the flat they are close to purchasing for the players. It is huge: five bedrooms (two with walk in closets), two bathrooms, two floors, four stories up, fully furnished kitchen, two balconies overlooking the neighbourhood, and a huge living room. In the meantime, the Swedes and I bide our time between the gym, playing cards in the cafe, and walking our neighbourhood hoping that we will practice next week. We have been told that Monday is a decision day and if I hear anything before than I will post it! I cannot wait until we play because now I want nothing more than to crush every team we play and win the championship.
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