NBA coach Popovich pledges support to Türkiye after earthquakes

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich said he is supporting a school for orphans in Türkiye after the devastating Feb. 6 earthquakes.

In a video on Twitter, US national Popovich extended his sympathies and condolences to the people affected by the disaster in which over 35,000 people have died.

"The one thing that I would ask. If there is anybody capable to help monetarily, to find a way to do that, I am going to do with Darussafaka Schools, which are educational institutions for orphans in the area. It's a wonderful organization. It has been in operation for over a hundred years...," Popovich said.

Darussafaka Schools, headquartered in Istanbul, have provided learning and lodging to orphans since 1863, and need donations to survive.

Popovich, 74, said he lived in Diyarbakir for a year, and traveled to many places including Gaziantep while he was young.

Located in Türkiye's southeast, Diyarbakir and Gaziantep are among the provinces recently hit by the major earthquakes.

The magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 tremblors, centered in the Kahramanmaras province, struck 10 provinces, leaving a trail of destruction.

Popovich has been coaching the Spurs since 1996, and is also serving as president for the NBA Western Conference franchise.

One of the best coaches in NBA, Popovich won the NBA title five times in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014.

He was named the NBA Coach of the Year three times.

Popovich was head coach of the US men's national team, which won Olympic gold at the 2020 Tokyo, the games which were a year later due to the coronavirus pandemic.