Śliwka: We will create an amazing Volleyball show at the #SuperFinalsVerona
Interview
Despite his still young age, Aleksander Śliwka has successfully conquered the Volleyball world in last years with the national team of Poland, claiming, among others, the 2018 World Championship title. Also in 2018, he joined Grupa Azoty Zaksa KĘDZIERZYN KOŹLE becoming a core member of the team that in the Super Finals in Verona on May 1, will fight for the most prestigious trophy in Europe's club competition. The 25-year-old left-handed outside spiker impresses on the court with his skills and technique proving his value in every match. He believes that his team will complete this remarkable season with historic achievement in the CEV Champions League Volley 2021 – Men.
Thus far, this season has been very gainful for Grupa Azoty Zaksa KĘDZIERZYN KOŹLE, they triumphed at the Polish SuperCup, the Polish Cup and reached for the first time the final of the CEV Champions League Volley. However, the final of PlusLiga delivered a big upset for the defending champions as they didn’t manage to re-gain the title. But there is still more at stake. After a few days of break, they started their ‘Operation Verona’. "Our preparations ahead of the Super Finals started with a few days off, to rest mentally after unsuccessful finals in the national league. On Thursday, we began working again at the gym and at the hall to be well-prepared for Verona. We have had two weeks since the last game in PlusLiga and I think it's enough time. Our coaching staff proved many times this season that they know how to prepare us for important games and I believe it will be the same in this case" – said Śliwka.
Grupa Azoty Zaksa KĘDZIERZYN KOŹLE have a chance to become the first Polish club to triumph at the CEV Champions League Volley. Their previous best result in the competition was a bronze medal earned in 2002/03. In the past, Płomień Milowice won Poland's only title in Europe's top club competition winning the 1977/78 Champions Cup – a predecessor of the Champions League.
"Despite losing the final in PlusLiga, this season still can be very successful. The game that is ahead of us gives us a chance to go down in history of the club and the Polish Volleyball, because the last achievement at this level was really long time ago..."
Aleksander Śliwka"...We hope that the team we are part of will be remembered by all of us as one of the best or even the best team we have ever played at, we really feel great together on the court. I hope that we will crown the season with victory in this last game and we will be satisfied with the result of all the hard work we have done during training sessions this season."
Outside spiker of Grupa Azoty KĘDZIERZYN KOŹLE
In this edition of the Champions League, the team from Kędzierzyn Koźle impressed with unbelievable comebacks and persistence that let them eliminate Lube and Zenit.
Aleksander Śliwka“Our teamsmanship is our strong side. Our Volleyball is not based on one or two players, in fact, it's a system of interconnected vessels, we depend on each other. Even if one player has a worse day, the others pull him up and this way we are able to perfectly cover some deficiencies – stable and collective play, not giving up and faith in the final success – it’s a key...."
Outside spiker of Grupa Azoty KĘDZIERZYN KOŹLE
"...In matches against Lube and Zenit we had to show huge patience and resistance for pain, because we were not able to end those matches quickly. Thanks to our patience and faith in victory and ourselves we managed to emerge victorious" - he continued.
In the #CLVolleyM knock-out phase Grupa Azoty Zaksa KĘDZIERZYN KOŹLE had to put up quite the battles not only in regular game time, but also in the Golden Sets. Which one was the most memorable for Śliwka? "The re-match in Kędzierzyn against Zenit – six sets full of fight. It was both a sporting attempt – a test if we can bear it, and a test for our mentality. We had an opportunity to close the game in the fourth set, but we didn't manage to win a tight end, in the fifth part we lost in extra time, but the third, last and most important chance [in Golden Set] was used by us. I think that emotions that accompanied this encounter will be remembered by me, my teammates and Volleyball fans for a very long time."
In Verona, on May 1, in the last battle of this edition of the Champions League, Grupa Azoty Zaksa KĘDZIERZYN KOŹLE will face Trentino Itas, Aleksander Śliwka speaks about their rival with big respect. "Trentino is an extremely strong team. No one reaches the final of the Champions League by chance. They are a top-class team that played fantastic this season, defeating great opponents on their way. In the national league they won bronze, but they definitely aimed higher, therefore, I think, the final of the Champions League will be the most important game for them this season. We will definitely create an amazing Volleyball show. We have a big respect for our opponent and we are aware who we will face, they are a team with very decorated players. I hope that we and Trentino will play an equal game, but at the end we will turn the tide for our site."