Volleyball
The best player in Poland was not taken to the World Cup. Revenge for the love of Russia?
Malvina Smarzek / Photo: © ZhVK “Lokomotiv”
Officials came up with ridiculous excuses to explain the rejection of a top athlete at a home tournament.
Less than two months left before the start of the women’s world championship in volleyball, starting in the Netherlands and Poland on September 23rd. Many teams have already announced preliminary lists to prepare for the main tournament of the four years.
Named the approximate line-up and the head coach of the Polish team. But the recently published list caused a huge resonance, because it did not contain the name of one of the best volleyball players in the country.
Malvina is being avenged for playing in the Russian championship?
“I really fell in love with Russian people”
Polish diagonal Malvina Smarzek is now under serious pressure at home. The volleyball player started the completed season in the Kaliningrad Lokomotiv. As part of the railroad, Malvina became a real team leader and an uncontested base player. Thanks to her performance, the club from Kaliningrad not only performed well in the domestic arena, but also looked good in the Champions League until they were expelled.
But at the end of March, Smarzek, like many other volleyball players, left Russia due to the changed political situation. At the same time, Malvina, unlike many players, did not hesitate to admit that she was not doing it of her own free will.
– I’m leaving Lokomotiv not because I want to. I think everyone understands why this is happening. I’m very sorry that this is how things turned out. And once again I want to tell you: “Thank you very much.” I really fell in love with the Russian people who surrounded me here. I want to thank you all for the last eight months, for your support. You are amazing! I felt at home, – said Malvina in a farewell speech.
For the rest of the season, Smarzek signed a contract with the Polish volleyball club Developress from Rzeszow, with whom she reached the quarterfinals of the local championship. But not all volleyball fans were happy about the return of the star diagonal to the Polish championship. In one of the matches in the domestic arena, fans of another club literally brought Malvina to tears by hanging an offensive banner with the inscription “Smarzhek go back to Russia.”
“No point in explaining”
After an emotionally difficult season, Malvina decided to take a break and improve her health. She announced to the coaching staff that she would not be able to play at the Nations League volleyball games, but would be ready for the start of the home world championship. But in the end, the preliminary list of 15 names of Smarzek published by the head coach of the Polish national team, Stefano Lavarini, did not appear. This was a huge surprise for the entire Polish volleyball community.
The absence of Malvina in the application immediately gave rise to the version that the local volleyball federation is taking revenge on the diagonal for its principled position in Russia. The volleyball player has repeatedly emphasized that she refuses to speak in a negative light about the political situation in our country.
The long silence of volleyball officials only increased the number of supporters of this version. The head coach of the Lavarini team did not name a specific reason for the absence of Smarzhek on the list, avoiding a direct question about the athlete.
– It makes no sense to explain why someone is not called up to the national team. This is disrespectful to the challenged volleyball players who deserve to be here. If I tell you why Malvina Smarzek is absent, I will also have to explain about the other absentees, the specialist replied evasively.
The president of the Polish Volleyball Federation, Sebastian Swiderski, did not come to the defense of the star volleyball player, placing all responsibility for choosing the team on the head coach of the national team.
– This is the decision of the coach, and he knows the reasons better than anyone. I have no right to speak on his behalf. He chose the best solution for the team,” the official said.
The rejection of a strong volleyball player at the home tournament, who undoubtedly could bring a lot of benefits to the team, looks like a very dubious step by the Polish leadership, no matter what form she is in. Perhaps it will cost the national team at the World Cup dearly.
Source: Sportbox
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