In the middle of next week (12.1, Tuesday) the Israeli team will officially start the European Men’s Volleyball Championship Qualifying Tournament, a tournament that will be played exceptionally well in our country. For six days, the three teams: Israel, Bulgaria and Austria will play against each other in the Anerbox hall in Hadera, with the first two at home qualifying for the championship itself.
Today (Monday) the Volleyball Association website provided an extensive interview with the coach, Noam Katz About the special event that will be launched next week. Katz addressed the uneasy preparation in the shadow of the Corona, and also provided a special message for the audience to see the games at home.
“There is a lot of excitement – we have been waiting for it for a long time, also personally, this is my first tournament as a team coach,” said the coach. “This is a way to test the abilities of our team in the most important framework in which we participate. It is true that we did not have the optimal preparation, I coach a team for a year and a half and we have not played a single official game, also because of the period, but we will not use it as an excuse. The maximum in the conditions that exist and try to be the best possible. “
Katz also talked about the particular advantage for his team due to the fact that the games will be held in Israel. “We will know this only after the championship, I think we wanted to be in a different situation, the team has not played international games in Israel for many years, and there was an opportunity to host great teams, see a show of good volleyball and of course watch our team in front of its audience, and it will not happen.” Said the coach. “It’s a shame, until there is such an opportunity in a beautiful and homely hall as in a hall in Hadera to host the championship games, but in the end it will be without a crowd, so on the one hand we are happy it will be here but on the other we are disappointed there will be no crowd to push the team.”
We played a number of games against the league’s foreign team and it is a welcome initiative of the union because these are the only games we could do because we could not host or be hosted, “he added on the preparations.” I also thank the foreign players who enlisted to help us. “I do not comment on the result of the games because I think serious coaches must work by the way and there are no shortcuts, which means if the team has not even played a training game for almost two years, then you can not expect the first or second game to work properly.”
We take advantage of these games to see what the shortcomings are and what we need to work on and promote in the little time left, “said Katz.” I am pleased with the players’ approach – I think the players are very willing and hungry. And come in an empowering and good atmosphere for the tournament. “Of course we know that the teams that play against us are good teams, and we have to play perfect volleyball to be successful against them and the players really understand that.”
The coach also sent a message to the fans of the team. “First of all they are missing us, my dream as a national team coach was to be in the country with a full hall shouting to the God of Israel, so I hope they will shout in front of the TV – and maybe it will help,” the coach said. “I want the audience to know that the players and all of us really play with a sense of pride and patriotism, both towards the country and to promote our industry and we hope that the games will bring more volleyball fans to Israel.”
