She is a basketball coach from Turkey who moved to Greece two weeks ago, specifically to the beautiful Ioannina.
Selen Erdem is the new coach of the PAS Giannina basketball team, which plays in the A1 Ethniki Women’s Basketball League, and accepted the difficult challenge because she thinks she can build a good team.
The basketball coach has already played two games with PAS Giannina and has also started to become a topic of discussion on Greek social media.
She is compared to Fatih Terim in Turkey because she emulates his movements and reactions during matches.
Selen also distinguishes her stylistic choices on the court. She always wears a suit and high heels.
The Turkish coach gave an interview with Sabah, her first since taking over the helm at PAS Giannina. In the interview, she discusses Greece, PAS Giannina, Fatih Terim, Ergin Ataman, her heels, and even her cooking skills.
Selen clearly demonstrates her differences on and off the field, explaining, “At work, if you are weak, you will be crushed.”
The coach explains, “Men and women do the same job, but unfortunately, they prefer men. That’s why we women have to work more. I said, ‘I’m sure I’m much better, and if I’m selected, I’ll work three times harder.’
“My advice to women is don’t give up or back down. I dare things. I left my loved ones and my family. I didn’t ask anyone for anything. I worked hard, deserved it, and got it,” she proudly said.
She said about her high heels: “Heeled shoes have been my choice since the day I started coaching. I represent women and pay special attention to my shoes, jewellery, and clothes.”
“I have been compared to a man, but I am a woman representing women’s power. People also loved this strong female figure,” Selen continued.
As for whether she wanted to coach a men’s team, she emphasised: “I am a woman, and I want to manage a women’s team. This played an important role in my decision to come to Greece.”
“The team said to me: ‘We want a woman to coach our team from now on,’ and that also played a role in my choice. I hope the number of female coaches in Turkey will increase,” the coach added.
She is compared to Terim in Turkey: “It is a great honour to be compared to him. We have similar moves.”
Ergin Ataman also works in Greece and is the coach of the European champion Panathinaikos.
She said of her colleague: “I would like to meet him and hear his opinions and advice. It would be a great pleasure for me to watch one of his matches from the sidelines.”
On her hand, she has a tattoo that reads in Persian: “Believe in miracles.” When asked what her miracle is, she says: “Even being in Greece right now is a miracle for me. God always gives what my heart desires.”
Off the court, she also enjoys time in the kitchen. “I can cook anything well, but curry chicken with and rice pilaf and hilopites are the most special. I’m good at making meatballs, Smyrna meatballs,” she said.
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