Atomic girls
The homeland has its place in the heart of every single player. Middle-blocker Zuzanna Efimienko – a member of Poland’s national team – played last year in Italy for the likes of Spes Volley CONEGLIANO but she was very happy to return home for the 2013/2014 season and join forces with Atom Trefl SOPOT.
“It looks like our nation is somehow underestimated internationally and because of this I want to achieve something for Poland while playing for the national team. Poland is my birthplace and there is no other place or country I enjoy as much as my homeland” Efimienko says.
There are another two players on the roster of Atom Trefl who have represented Poland internationally. “Even though I have travelled the world, I only feel good here in Poland. I can’t imagine myself living somewhere else than here where I would have to deal with a different culture and mentality” stresses libero Mariola Zenik.
“Poland is my homeland and the place where I live. I am very pleased that I was born here” adds opposite Anna Podolec.
Izabela Belcik, a double European champion with Poland’s national team in 2003 and 2005, also stresses the importance of her home country.
“I live here and am happy with it. Poland is a beautiful place even though some people complain about the weather and the climate. We still have four seasons here and therefore we really enjoy summer and the sunny days. As a nation, we are a bit different than others. Sometimes we idealize people from our countries and we forget about our own, good people. I mean, we also have many things that we shall be proud of and that you can’t find anywhere else, like for instance, our hospitality. However, I think it is also good that our people admire each other and there is not as much jealousy and envy as before. We have been able to get rid of some taboos and are less conservative than in the past.”
Even though November 11 is a public holiday in Poland, the players around Dutch-born head coach Teun Buijs will start preparing for their next game in the national league as on Sunday they play Beef Master Budowlani LODZ.
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