By John Verghese
Doha: Favourites Trentino will aspire to translate their improving confidence levels into an impressive display when they take on Iranian club Paykan in the semifinals of the FIVB Men’s Club Volleyball World Championship at the Aspire Zone indoor hall today.
Having come into the competition with little exposure to the new Golden Formula rule being tested in the ongoing championship, European Champions League victors Trentino under coach Radostin Stoytchev have displayed steady improvement since their 3-1 opening match victory against Egyptian club Zamalek to win their subsequent matches against Russia’s Zenit Kazan and Puerto Rican club Corozal, to finish as Pool ‘A’ toppers with also the highest tally of points won by a team at 286 points in the championship. Trentino are expected to continue their winning ways in the semifinals too, but for their aspirations to bear fruit, it will need their foreign stars, Brazilian Leandro Vissotto and Bulgarian captain Matey Kaziyski continuing to play the lead roles with support from their Cuban spiker Osmany Juantorena.
Trentino coach Radostin Stoytchev sounded positive ahead of the semifinal match. “Our players are motivated and we are focused on doing well. Everybody considers us as favourites but since the event is being held under a new rule and also because we are still coming to terms with it, I expect my players to stick to their assigned tasks,” he said.
Team manager Riccard Michieletto however struck a note of caution. “As Iran have trained for a longer period than other teams under the new rule, I expect them to give us a good fight. But the height advantage of our players should help us,” he said. Asian champions Paykan, who have achieved two wins and a loss to Pool ‘B’ toppers Skra Belchatow in their route to the semifinals, will look for an inspired display if they are to get past the strongest team in the competition.
Paykan coach Alireza Moameri however said his players would not be overawed by their opponents.
“I must admit the class of players in the two teams are different but then our side comprises mainly homegrown players,” he said.
“I have asked the players to disregard the stature of our opposition and to play their natural game. In sport, sometimes miracles can happen,” he added.
Paykan will look to prolific scorer Mohamed Kazem, setter Amir Husseini and Mohamed Mousavi Eraghi playing to their potential if they are to stop the roll of the Italian juggernaut.
Meanwhile a high quality fare is expected in the rescheduled opening semifinal clash between European giants, Skra Belchatow of Poland and Zenit Kazan of Russia.
With Belchatow under coach Jacek Nawrocki also having been convincing in the three straight victories over Al Arabi, Paykan and Cimed on their way to the semifinals, Zenit Kazan, which currently has the best servers in the world, will need to dig deep to put it across their rivals. Belchatow coach Nawrocki will hope that his team’s blocking would improve to complement their strengths in other areas of the game
“We will strive hard to curtail the strengths of Zenit Kazan in serve and attack and I expect our team’s blockers to do a thorough job,” he said.
Belchatow will look to Bartosz Kurek, the top-scorer in the championship thus far with 67 points, to continue with his scoring prowess with support from Frenchman Stephane Aliga. Zenith Kazan coach Vladimir Alekno said he is focused on a good performance in the championship. “We may have done well in the European Champions League last season but we cannot rest on past glory. This is definitely a prestigious event and we are determined to perform well,” he said.
Today’s schedule: Semifinals: Topper Pool ‘B’ (PGE Skra Belchatow, Poland) vs Second in Pool ‘A’ (Zenit Kazan, Russia), 6pm; Topper Pool ‘A’ (Trentino, Italy) vs Second in Pool ‘B’ (Paykan, Iran), 8pm.(All matches at Aspire Zone indoor hall). |
