An official press conference was organized this afternoon at the Focus hotel in Lodz to welcome the teams participating in the final four of this year’s CEV Indesit Champions League. PGE Skra BELCHATOW will try to carry the hopes of thousands of Volleyball fans here in Poland, playing first the semifinal against Russia’s Dinamo MOSCOW and then eventually vying for the title against the winner of the match starring TRENTINO BetClic and ACH Volley BLED.
Dr. Jan Hronek, CEV Vice President, opened the press conference recalling the many efforts of the local organizers after the final four was canceled three weeks ago to pay tribute to the victims of the plane crash that caused the death also of Poland’s President Lech Kaczynski. “I would like to thank PGE Skra for their efforts to organize this final for the second time. I wish all participating teams the very best of luck. They did their best to come to Lodz to help the organizers, despite it was very difficult to find a suitable date. I am pretty sure it will be great tournament” said Dr. Hronek.
CEV Vice President and ECC President Riet Ooms added: “We all know the tragedy that affected Poland some 3 weeks ago. We were very sad and knew quite well it was impossible to play on that tragic weekend. Now I am happy that we all managed to find the right solution and organize the final four. It is the evidence of the solidarity of the Volleyball family”.
The floor was then given to the players and coaches of the participating teams. Andrej Flajs, captain of Slovenian sensation ACH Volley BLED, said: “We are in a better situation than the other teams, as we have already won our local league and could focus on the final four. Moreover we have won the promotion to the next Champions League, so we feel comfortable. We hope to play as good as in the Slovenian league finals - only in that situation we can have a chance against TRENTINO”.
Dinamo’s coach and former international star Yury Cherednik added: “I was and I am deeply touched by what happened in Poland 3 weeks ago. I would like to offer my condolences to the local people. We will try to provide all the Polish fans with the best Volleyball to make it a real party in the Atlas Arena”. His captain Sergey Grankin stated, after having been asked about the influence of the three matches the team lost in the semis of the Russian league against Zenit KAZAN: “Of course, we lost, and we did not play our best but now this belongs to the past. We are thinking about the future and this final four. We would like to win.'
Polish coach Jacek Nawrocki concluded: “I would like to thank all the teams and the CEV for their support and condolences. It is very important for us. As a Polish team, we have not been able to compete 3 weeks ago and all of you understood that. Last time we were very well prepared and confident - but I reckon everybody was. Now it is a different time and a different story, but we have to do once more everything we can to play at our best. Nobody will ever know what would have happened if we had played 3 weeks ago, so it is not important now”.
All matches will be streamed live at www.laola1.tv; click here for a detailed TV schedule, with the final likely to be aired in 61 different countries
Dr. Jan Hronek, CEV Vice President, opened the press conference recalling the many efforts of the local organizers after the final four was canceled three weeks ago to pay tribute to the victims of the plane crash that caused the death also of Poland’s President Lech Kaczynski. “I would like to thank PGE Skra for their efforts to organize this final for the second time. I wish all participating teams the very best of luck. They did their best to come to Lodz to help the organizers, despite it was very difficult to find a suitable date. I am pretty sure it will be great tournament” said Dr. Hronek.
CEV Vice President and ECC President Riet Ooms added: “We all know the tragedy that affected Poland some 3 weeks ago. We were very sad and knew quite well it was impossible to play on that tragic weekend. Now I am happy that we all managed to find the right solution and organize the final four. It is the evidence of the solidarity of the Volleyball family”.
The floor was then given to the players and coaches of the participating teams. Andrej Flajs, captain of Slovenian sensation ACH Volley BLED, said: “We are in a better situation than the other teams, as we have already won our local league and could focus on the final four. Moreover we have won the promotion to the next Champions League, so we feel comfortable. We hope to play as good as in the Slovenian league finals - only in that situation we can have a chance against TRENTINO”.
Dinamo’s coach and former international star Yury Cherednik added: “I was and I am deeply touched by what happened in Poland 3 weeks ago. I would like to offer my condolences to the local people. We will try to provide all the Polish fans with the best Volleyball to make it a real party in the Atlas Arena”. His captain Sergey Grankin stated, after having been asked about the influence of the three matches the team lost in the semis of the Russian league against Zenit KAZAN: “Of course, we lost, and we did not play our best but now this belongs to the past. We are thinking about the future and this final four. We would like to win.'
Polish coach Jacek Nawrocki concluded: “I would like to thank all the teams and the CEV for their support and condolences. It is very important for us. As a Polish team, we have not been able to compete 3 weeks ago and all of you understood that. Last time we were very well prepared and confident - but I reckon everybody was. Now it is a different time and a different story, but we have to do once more everything we can to play at our best. Nobody will ever know what would have happened if we had played 3 weeks ago, so it is not important now”.
All matches will be streamed live at www.laola1.tv; click here for a detailed TV schedule, with the final likely to be aired in 61 different countries
