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The tough battle for titles and talents: At Bundesliga volleyball team Allianz MTV Stuttgart and its sports director Kim Renkema, only the principle of performance counts.
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Stuttgart – One of the tasks of executives in sport is to ensure success in the here and now – and at the same time to think in perspective, to develop strategies, to plan the future. Kim Renkema, the sports director of the volleyball Bundesliga club Allianz MTV Stuttgart, leaves no doubt what counts for her: “Attack the title!” This is the premise that she puts together her squad, season after season. But it is not the only requirement that the association gives itself. At the same time, Allianz MTV Stuttgart is about building on young German players. Or better: it was about that. Because to some extent, the master of 2019 has said goodbye to this goal. In the here and now, but also for the near future.
When Tore Aleksandersen, the new coach of the Bundesliga leaders, starts his regular formation this Saturday (7.30 p.m.) in the game at Nawaro Straubing, then Krystal Rivers (USA), Michaela Mlejnkova (Czech Republic), Maria Segura Palleres (Spain) will start again ), Athina Papafotiou (Greece), Mira Todorova (Bulgaria), Juliet Lohuis (Netherlands) and Roosa Koskelo (Finland). Logically, he does not look at the nationality of his volleyball players, but at their performance, their form, their interaction. And how they fit into his system, which provides for high speed. “If you train well, you play,” says Aleksandersen, “that’s how it is in competitive sport.”
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However, the MTV coach also emphasizes that his second row is very strong, there are hardly any differences in quality – and he will give her the chance to present herself: “But then these opportunities must also be used.” seldom worked recently.
Setter Pia Kästner (22), who missed the entire last season due to a back problem, is not yet back to the level she had before her injury. Returning Lena Große Scharmann (22) has the player in front of her in the diagonal position in Krystal Rivers, of whom Kim Renkema says: “She is unbeatable.” Newcomer Dora Grozer (25) is currently also having to wait behind strong competition in the external attack, Lara Berger (19) is making progress there, but is far from regular use. “We’re going to need the entire team this season, I’m sure of that,” says the sporting director, for whom one thing is also clear: Ultimately, it’s all about being successful – no matter with which players, and no matter who where they come from. “It is our firm intention to promote German talents and integrate them into the team,” explains Kim Renkema, “however, it is not possible to rely on as many Germans as possible and therefore not play for titles.” That is a sentence that also applies Influences the future strategy of the club.
Because when looking for young German players with potential, Renkema sees herself and her club in a difficult position – for several reasons. “You have to take a critical look at the talent development in Germany,” says the MTV sports director, “for the size of the country there are far too few strong young players. That will also have a negative effect on the perspective of the national team. ”Young volleyball players who are good enough, like Camilla Weitzel (20 / Dresdner SC) or Lina Alsmeier (20 / SSC Schwerin), to play a leading role right away in a top Bundesliga team To play is far too rare, according to Kim Renkema: “We are still fighting for these few talents. But others do that too. ”And they have an advantage.
Advantage for Dresden and Schwerin
From Renkema’s point of view, the Dresdner SC is an absolute leader in youth work: “We are lagging far behind, we are still a long way from this level.” And the SSC Schwerin continues to benefit from the dual role of its coach Felix Koslowski, which often has an enormous influence have the future planning of the greatest talents. “As long as he is also the national coach and the selection on the German market remains so small,” says Kim Renkema, “we will rely on international players.”
In the global world of sport, this is not an exceptional path – and nobody cares much as long as the limitless concept is successful. What Aleksandersen, Renkema and the MTV fans would say if their team would win the German championship without a German player in the starting line-up is therefore obvious: “Everything done right!”
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