Zenit KAZAN press conference
“Zenit KAZAN faces the same challenges it had to stand last season – we want to win all competitions we participate in” says the president of the club, Rafkat Kantyokov. “The team has already won the Russian Supercup some ten days ago. It is very important to defend the title we got last year and remain the strongest club in Europe. This is even more important as we have four Olympic champions from London 2012 included in our group: Maxim Mikhaylov, Yury Berezhko, Alexey Obmochaev and Nikolay Apalikov. Unfortunately, another gold medalist from the Olympics – Alexander Volkov – will be out for at least six months due to a knee injury”.
Middle blocker Alexander Abrosimov, US American opposite Matthew Anderson and setter Igor Kolodinsky joined Zenit KAZAN this summer. “We managed to reinforce several positions and to create more competition among the players that are likely to occupy such positions” adds head coach Vladimir Alekno. “We are in for a tough season. There will be ups and downs. But we will try to defend the titles won by the club and add some new trophies to the collection of our museum”.
After the fourth round of the Russian league defending champion Zenit KAZAN remains the only club with an immaculate record. Interestingly, the team from Tatarstan won 3-2 three of their four matches so far. And during the home matches against Lokomotiv NOVOSIBIRSK and Fakel NOVY URENGOY, Zenit KAZAN was trailing 0:2 but managed to turn the tide of the match, repeating the scenario of the Olympic final played by Russia against Brazil in London. On Tuesday, the team of Vladimir Alekno beat Ural UFA in an away match. Great play by Maxim Mikhaylov and Alexander Abrosimov contributed another victory, once again with the score of 3:2.
The Russian championship takes now a two-week break. At that time Zenit KAZAN will play at the 2012 FIVB Club World Championships in Doha. After that, the team of Vladimir Alekno will be getting ready for the start of 2013 CEV Volleyball Champions League in a home match against Belgium’s Knack ROESELARE.
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