Former national basketball player Kerem Gonlum shared his views on the basketball academy he opened in London, life in London, Turkish basketball, career and future goals.
Kerem Güldüm, a former national basketball player who put an end to his professional basketball career at the age of 42 and settled in London, the capital of England, three years ago, opened a basketball academy in three different regions and gave training to children from all walks of life, especially Turks, answered the questions of İhlas News Agency (İHA). .
Saying that they will start to join the leagues in time with the students in the academy, Kerem Güldüm said, “Last year, we were able to join the leagues with a team under the age of 14. This year, we will take our five or six teams, including the girls, to the matches. “Hopefully it will start in November,” he said.
“I would have gotten into this business sooner if I had known”
Explaining how it feels to teach basketball to children, Güldüm said, “It was really another feeling to be able to touch the lives of children. If I had known, I would have taken this job sooner. Luckily, of course. Everything happens when the time comes. Everything is going very well right now. We started this business in North London. At the moment, we are training our children intensively as Kerem Güldüm Basketball Academy in three different regions.”
“The parents have been looking for such an academy for a long time”
Stating that it is difficult to direct children to basketball because basketball is overshadowed by football in England, the former basketball player said, “You see; Currently, there are many carpet pitches around our hall and they are all full. Very natural. Because England is a football country. This is the case in the world. This is a country where it rains a lot. Especially in winter, there are not many activities for children to do outside. Many parents thanked me when I opened the academy. They said they’ve been looking for a quality basketball course for a long time. Because the clubs and academies here were up to a certain level, they could not get what they wanted before.”
“Children’s self-confidence rises, they make friends, they socialize”
Expressing that the academy is very important for the socialization of children at a time when children are constantly playing digital games at home, the former national player said, “It is very important to keep children away from the electronic environment in this age. In this sense, basketball is a very valuable activity. But other than that, the children’s self-confidence is coming, they make friends, they socialize, they form good bonds. We have established very good ties with them. Parents are aware of this and they make great sacrifices for it. Since the halls are in certain locations, there may be difficulties in going and coming, but every difficulty is overcome upon request. After all, the common denominator of all of us is our children.”
“Thanks to my name, we are climbing the steps fast”
Expressing that the salon elections were not chosen especially in the regions where Turks live intensely, Gonlum said, “I started this business in North London. As you said, it is a region where Turks live intensely. But there are Turks everywhere and that doesn’t mean that I only work with Turks. I also have British, Indian and Pakistani students. Of course this happens over time. The fact that basketball reaches a certain level, getting to know me and being satisfied with our training increases the number of our students. On the one hand, I do not want to increase the number suddenly and miss the end of the rope. I am a father of two children. I want to make time for them. It is also difficult to find a salon. Maybe there are more salons in Turkey, but they are used for very different purposes. They use it for badminton, for example. There is even a birthday party. It is a system that I am not used to, but after the intentions are pure, every door opens.”
“I may be one of the few people who played basketball the longest”
Expressing that he played basketball professionally until his 40s, and this is an indication of his love for basketball, Kerem Güldüm said, “Yes, I can be one of the few people who played basketball for the longest time. I quit before I came to England. I played my last match against Fenerbahce with ITU uniform on September 29, 2019. I started this sport late, but because I love it so much, I continued professionally until I was 42 years old. Basketball is my way of life. I played for 23 years and I was never bored. Now if you say let’s play, I’ll play right away. That’s why I love teaching basketball to children. The more I see their progress, the more motivated I become. At the same time, I learn something new every day thanks to this passion.”
“The Sultans of the Net got ahead of the 12 Giant Men”
Stating that Turkish basketball was successful with a local-dominated staff during its youth, teams have turned to foreign players recently, and that the Turkish Volleyball team has surpassed basketball in this respect, the former basketball player said, “A very good atmosphere was captured with the motto of 12 Giant Men at that time. We played in the final of 2001 European Championship. We came 6th in the 2006 World Championship. We played in the final of the 2010 World Championship. Now, the “Sultans of the Net” have surpassed the 12 Giant Men with their success. In our period, at least 3 Turkish players had to play on the field. Not so now. Turkish players do not get time in the league. How will he play in the Euroleague, the National Team, who can’t take time in the league? It is really hard to say to a player who does not play for his own team, ‘Come on, come out, play for the National Team,'” he said.
“I would burn ships, go to the NBA at any cost”
The former national player, who said that he could play in the NBA, but his transfer did not take place, said, “I had a contract with Ülkerspor. Ülkerspor was one of the two big clubs together with A. Efes at that time. Later, they merged with Fenerbahçe. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get out of my contract. More precisely, the club did not allow it. The San Antonio Spurs offered a two-year contract. Of course, the NBA is every player’s dream. I grew up watching them. Is there any ah left in me? It’s gone; but I learned my lesson. should i go? I do not know. It’s all luck. At that time, frankly, I was a little naive. It feels like I didn’t struggle too much to get going. I should not leave the decision to others. But luck. After that, I had a very good career both in Turkey and in the National Team.”
“I wanted to pay too, but they told me ‘We don’t send'”
Expressing that Mirsad Türkcan, the first Turkish basketball player to go to the NBA, gave money out of his pocket despite his contract with A. Efes, he said, “I wanted to pay too, but they told me, “We won’t send it,” and I said, “OK.” I haven’t struggled enough. But if I had my current mind, I would burn the ships. I would go no matter what.”
“I have a big goal here”
Saying that one of his goals is professional coaching, Kerem Gonlum said, “Of course there is. Why not? But working with children is a very different pleasure. Connecting with them is a very different feeling. My goal is big here. Maybe if my team competes in a league here, I’ll be their coach. My academy is still a baby. We started from scratch and it’s growing slowly. I don’t know what life brings, but my goal right now is academia.”
“I miss Turkey so much, but I have a goal here”
Saying that he was thinking of returning to Turkey, the former basketball player said, “Actually, I got used to this place, but there is always a longing for Turkey. Our homeland. When I was a player, I went to many countries in the world for matches. Frankly, there is no beautiful country like ours. Which one shall I say? We have a very beautiful country with everything. That’s why you yearn here, but after all, life goes on. We chose this place for my children’s education. I don’t know what life brings. We’re not here to root. My wife and children are also happy here. My goal is to grow my academy and complete my mission. I don’t know what life will show after that,” he said.
LONDON (UAV)
