- The Polish national team of juniors (under 21) won the bronze medal at the World Championships. The coach of the team, Daniel Piliński, in an interview with Kamil Drąg, reveals the backstage of the event
- – Despite adversities, this team never doubted, always believed that they could achieve something great. And we have this medal – he says
- – This team is the backbone of the first team, and I did not treat these boys as juniors, but as mature volleyball players – he points out
- More such stories can be found on the main page of Onet.pl
Kamil Drąg: In May you took the position of the coach of the Polish junior volleyball team, and four months later you led the team to the bronze medal of the world championships in Bulgaria and Italy. It’s called effectiveness!
Daniel Piliński (coach of Poland’s junior national team, former volleyball player, 2006 runner-up): We only had three training microcycles of ten days each at that time. It is very little, but I found a group of extremely talented guys who had not won anything big so far and were hungry for success. Before, they always lacked something to get to the semi-finals of a big event, now we have achieved it, although it was not easy. First, Michał Gierżot suffered an injury in the match against Bulgaria, then Kuba Czerwiński fell out of the second host. We played the three most important games in weakness, but the players who replaced the leaders showed great character.
We were close to playing in the final, but this bronze, won in such circumstances, tastes like gold. With our problems, it is an amazing achievement. As if that were not enough, bad luck haunted us to the end. As we were going to the medal ceremony, two guys got stuck in the elevator at the hotel and missed the ceremony. It was a symbolic summary of the tournament, during which the wind blew our eyes all the time, but these troubles toughened us up.
Your team won the fourth medal for Poland in the history of the U-21 World Cup, but in fact you shouldn’t be in this tournament.
Exactly! We got a wild card from the FIVB and I think we made good use of it, right? Many thanks to the people from the union who trusted us, to the coaching staff with whom I worked and – very important – to the coaches of the club teams who agreed to release the boys for the tournament. After all, the games are already underway. The troubles began at the beginning of my work. Nobody remembers that Karol Urbanowicz sprained his ankle at the first training camp, then Kuba Czerwiński had problems, he did not train. We took care that they would recover, that they would regenerate. Despite the adversities, this team never doubted, always believed that they could achieve something great. And we have this medal.
In the semi-final with Italy, there was not much to a surprise. You were leading 2-0 in sets even though you played weakened and your rivals included rising Italian volleyball star Alessandro Michieletto.
The key was the fourth set, in which we were chasing our opponent all the time. In the end, Bartek Gomułka attacked strongly and, in my opinion, scored a point. The judge had a different opinion, and it was, after all, the decisive acacia. I am shocked that such a large federation as FIVB did not give video verification for such an important tournament. It’s the world championship, after all, even if only for the juniors.
How did you celebrate your success and bronze medals?
There wasn’t much celebration. We came back to the hotel, had a beer. The coaching staff went to bed after one in the morning, the players even earlier. This tournament cost us a lot of strength, we played eight matches in eleven days. It was a real roller-coaster. In the match with Bulgaria, deciding about the promotion to the semi-finals, we lose 0: 2, and the captain sprained the ankle. Nevertheless, we won.
The next day, after a dozen or so hours, we have to play with Russia without any regeneration. Then a trip from Sofia to Cagliari, and a tiring fight with the Italians. We were really tired before the battle for bronze, but we overwhelmed Argentina. Many people criticized us for not breaking the changes at the party, and we didn’t have players in this position anymore because Gierżot and Czerwiński suffered injuries! For the decisive matches, there was a variant prepared for the middle player, Karol Urbanowicz, to play at the party. Fortunately, it was not necessary, because Jakub Kraut and Antoni Kwasigroch managed to do it. Brave guys. If anyone thinks playing for the U-21 is fun, they are wrong. This is serious volleyball. Everyone wanted to win and show their best side.
How did you find yourself in your new role? Until now, you have only led the second league Błyskawica Szczecin.
I think I made it (laughs). This team is the backbone of the first team, and I did not treat these boys as juniors, but as mature volleyball players. Everyone knew what they could afford, there wasn’t any great control that is common in working with younger years. You have to trust people, we treated them as partners. Thanks to this, we formed a strong group. Sure, they have to listen and do what they are told during training, but the most important thing is mutual trust, empathy and treating players as partners. It is worth listening to the players, because they are going out onto the pitch and they have to play.
You’re not a type of coaching autocrat?
Of course not. The players must obey orders, but these must be our joint decisions. It was crucial. I played volleyball at the highest level for several years, but I was never in a team that did so well in a block-defense system. This team was great defensive. There was no other team at this tournament that blocked that well. Argentina was walled up by us.
Eight of your twelve charges play in Tauron 1st league, four – Michał Gierżot, Maciej Nowowsiak, Jakub Strulak and Karol Urbanowicz in PlusLiga. What will be better for them – sitting on the bench in the elite or playing in the back?
The best game will be to play PlusLiga, which – I am sure – most of them will soon find their way. I know one thing, you have to bet on these guys, you have to give them a chance. Two three players from my team should be included in the large team of the Polish national team from the next season.
Who are the most likely to break into the national team? Gierżot is the leader of this team, he has performed in Jastrzębie, Karol Urbanowicz, as the only Pole, joined the dream team of the world championship. Maybe they?
I would add to this libero Maciej Nowowsiak, quarterback David Pawlun who wants to work, or Czerwiński. It is definitely worth following the games of the 1st league, because there will be many great young guys with papers for the big game.
And what about Mr.?
I had a contract until the end of the World Cup and my adventure with this fantastic group is over. I’m going my way, I have my plan. We will see if I can implement it.
Sebastian Świderski became the president of PZPS, Michał Bąkiewicz led the U-19 team to the gold of the world championship, Michał Winiarski can find himself in the senior team. Raul Lozano’s “children” rule Polish volleyball?
The former players of coach Lozano will get a chance and that’s a good thing. The Argentine taught us a lot, showed us a lot, and now each of us wants to go our own path. It’s nice that people trust us and we get a chance. We recently left the field and we feel volleyball, we know what to do to help the players.
Junior World Championships bronze medalists
Playmaker: Igor Gniecki, Dawid Pawlun; recipients: Jakub Czerwiński, Michał Gierżot, Jakub Kraut, Antoni Kwasigroch; attackers: Dawid Dulski, Bartosz Gomułka; middle: Adrian Markiewicz, Jakub Strulak, Karol Urbanowicz and libero: Maciej Nowowsiak.
Coaching and medical staff: Daniel Pliński (coach), Ariel Fijoł, Bartosz Lickindorf (assistant coach), Kacper Goździkiewicz (statistician), Krzysztof Wróbel (physiotherapist), Andrzej Wołkowycki (team leader).
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