Kaweh Niroomand
Celebrating his 60th birthday, club president Kaweh Niroomand and the spectators will get to see the last home match of the 2012 German national champion in the prelims of the 2013 CEV Volleyball Champions League facing no less than the European top team from Siberia. Three days before the home clash of his team we briefly talked to Kaweh Niroomand.
Kaweh, you’ve been committing yourself to Volleyball for decades. What is it that captivates you?
“Volleyball is a dynamic and fast sport that requires much intelligence. I’ve been playing Volleyball since I was 14 years old and always have been emotionally involved in this sport. I just want to help to raise the sport’s popularity”.
What keeps you going even after twenty years of this responsible and time consuming commitment?
“I see and feel that we’ve contributed to make Volleyball more popular – here in Berlin and even beyond this city. We’ve managed to attract a lot people to this sport that hadn’t been involved before. However, we have to be realistic. We don’t want to compete with other sports, but we want to work professionally in this “Volleyball niche”.
Which goals do you want to achieve with the team in the future?
“Our club needs to grow on the sportive basis – and we’ve still got a long way to go. I want our club to become a staple in European Volleyball. On an international basis, BERLIN has to be become a stronghold in Volleyball. The way is a long one, though”.
At the start of the season you said you’ve always been jealous of VfB FRIEDRICHSHAFEN and Generali UNTERHACHING as they’ve had the possibility to compete in the Champions League. What makes participating so important for BERLIN?
“From a sporting perspective, to steadily compete against the best European clubs enables us to improve ourselves and is simply not to compare with a practice session. Also, the term “Champions League” – not least because of football – has evolved into a brand which eventually helps the participating clubs to raise their public awareness”.
How satisfied are you with our matches in this year’s Champions League campaign?
“So far, we did a good job, but still we have to play two very difficult matches. Making it to the Playoffs would be an optimal result for us. I don’t think about anything that might happen afterwards”.
You’re celebrating your 60th birthday on Tuesday – when your team plays NOVOSIBIRSK. Do you have any birthday wishes?
“Seeing our team playing one of the best European teams, that’s already a great gift. Anything else would only be the icing on the cake”.
For more volleyball news from the Champions League – Men click here
