Lausanne, Switzerland, December 11, 2018 – VakifBank Istanbul were given a hero’s welcome when they touched down in Ataturk Airport in Istanbul on Monday following their triumph at the China 2018 FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship on Sunday.
Giovanni Guidetti’s team defeated Brazilian side Minas Tenis Clube 3-0 (25-23, 25-21, 25-19) at the Shaoxing Olympic Sports Center in Shaoxing. It meant that they retained the Club World Championship title, and became the first team to win the trophy three times.
Among the fans was a band who serenaded the players, who were also presented with garlands of flowers.
“We are really happy to bring the cup to our country for the third time and we are very proud,” team captain Melis Gürkaynak said. “Our president, our board of directors, our managers, our coaches and players are a really big family.
“I would like to thank the whole VakifBank family for giving us this opportunity. Thanks to the power of this large family, we can put our heart into the field in very important and critical places. This is the biggest secret to our success.”