TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen part company with Akkuzu and Kulczycki
After it was initially announced that TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen would part ways with its current Head Coach after the current season, the first personnel decisions have now also been announced on the players' side. The expiring contracts with Frenchman Can Akkuzu and Poland's Samuel Kulczycki will not be extended, meaning that both players will leave the club on June 30, 2024. It is not yet clear where the duo will move to.
The 26-year-old Akkuzu moved to TTF from the French first division for the 2021/2022 season and had already been a member of the Liebherr Masters College (LMC) talent pool for six years. In the current season, the 2019 French champion only made eight appearances due to health reasons and had a record of 3:5.
The path of 21-year-old Samuel Kulczycki, who had been part of Ochsenhausen's Bundesliga squad without interruption since the 2020/2021 season, was similar. He also comes from the club's own ranks and had been part of the LMC since 2018. Due to a long-term back injury, the 2021 U21 World Cup runner-up only made seven appearances this season and had a 2-6 record.
President Kristijan Pejinovic explains the decision as follows: "We had several intensive discussions and ultimately agreed that a change had to be made - for both sides. Unfortunately, Can and Samuel did not always meet our expectations, but also their own. Of course, they had a longer absence in the current season and the decision was not made for this reason. Both parties - i.e. us as a club as well as the two boys - have not managed to bring about more stability and a clear sporting development over the past two years. This is also the reason for the important step towards a new sporting direction. On a personal level, the two boys have been an enrichment for the club. The same applies here: once Ochsenhausen, always Ochsenhausen."
Can Akkuzu: "I had 10 wonderful years in Ochsenhausen and will give everything for this club until my last day. This place will always remain unique for me and I will save it with fond memories. When my last day here has dawned, I will say goodbye to everyone again in person and with a few more words."
Samuel Kulczycki: "I would like to thank our fans. In the last three and a half years, I've never experienced so much support and it's been the best years of my life. Also a big thank you to the whole team around our coach, the team manager, our physiotherapist, the president and of course my teammates. I always experienced maximum support and we had many wonderful moments together."
Source: Press release TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen
Featured image above: Can Akkuzu and Samuel Kulczycki (Photos: Nicolai Schaal)