Fatih Solak

infobox NBA Player


name = Fatih Solak
nickname = Mutombo
position = Center
height_ft = 7 | height_in = 1
weight_lbs = 275
team = Aliağa belediyesi
nationality = Turkey
birth_date = birth date and age|1980|7|25
birth_place = Kayseri, Turkey
college =
draft =
draft_year =
draft_team =
career_start =
career_end =
former_teams = Ülkerspor and Beşiktaş Cola Turka
awards =

Fatih Solak is a professional Turkish basketball player, born on July 25, 1980 in Kayseri. He stands 2.16 m tall making him a Center. He also has a very impressive physique and weighs 125 kg (275 pounds).

He is currently playing for the Turkish Premier division team Aliağa belediyesi. In the past, he has also played for Ülkerspor and Beşiktaş Istanbul again of the Turkish league. Fatih Solak was part of the Turkish national team that achieved sixth spot in the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan. He is best known for his amazing blocks and rebounds, and also contributes to the attack. Fatih Solak has been recently known for his close friendship with fellow National Team Player Ermal Kurtoğlu. Solak has always identified his ambition as playing in the NBA, in which other Turkish National players Mehmet Okur, Ersan İlyasova and Hidayet Türkoğlu are currently playing. Fatih Solak only started playing basketball at the age of seventeen, in which he had a height of 6 feet 3 (1.90 metres). Ever since his first year in basketball, Fatih Solak has developed vastly and has become an established figure for the Turkish National team. Due to his success in blocking, rebounds and 2.16 figure, Solak has been likened to Houston Rockets legend Dikembe Mutombo. Fatih is proud of being likened to one of his NBA idols and aims to continue producing the performances that has made him this popular with Turkish fans. Solak's average stats for the 2006-2007 season is as follows: 7.75 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.1 blocks per game; which is deemed to be successful by his coach at Galatasaray Cafe Crown Murat Özyer.

Fatih Solak has always thanked former coach Selçuk Ernak who is believed to have helped in Fatih's development as one of Turkey's top centres. Selçuk Ernak is the current coach at Banvitspor. Murat Özyer, his coach at Galatasaray Café Crown, has also received a mention from Fatih for consistently giving him enough minutes on the field. In June 2008, Fatih Solak transferred to Aliağa belediyesi.

Solak most recently (2008 September) represented Turkey in the Division A Eurobasket Qualification tournament. Turkey won all her 6 games, against France, Belgium and Ukraine. Fatih Solak impressed especially in the last game of the group matches against France. Turkey won in France 80 to 78 and Fatih Solak recorded in this game 16 points, 6 rebounds and 4 blocks. If he continues to play at this level he can be a dominant force for Turkey at the 2009 European Championship that Turkey has qualified for as the leader of its group of four.

External links

* [http://www.galatasaray.org/basketbol/detay_kti.asp?pid=2366&haberid=295837]