18/03/2019 13:54
BLAJ and Yamamay ready to lock horns in #CEVCupW finals
2019 CEV Volleyball Cup - Women
Sibiu, Romania, March 18, 2019. CSM Volei Alba BLAJ and Yamamay e-work BUSTO ARSIZIO are playing, on Tuesday evening, in Transylvania Hall in Sibiu, the first leg of the final of the 2019 CEV Volleyball Cup – Women. The best teams in this year’s competition promise two beautiful, high-level matches with such a coveted title at stake.
The small community in Transylvania is looking forward to this match, which confirms once again the European status of the Romanian club. To play two European finals in a row is a feat that no other team in Romania, no matter the sport, has achieved in the past 30 years. CSM Volei Alba BLAJ aim to win their first European trophy in history. Officials of Europe’s vice-champions hope that the good run in this competition will continue in the two upcoming matches even though they admit that Yamamay e-work are the favourites.
Darko Zakoč, coach of CSM Volei Alba BLAJ: “We are very glad to play the final of the CEV Cup, it is a historic moment for this city and for our team, but we do not just think about that. We want to bring the CEV Cup trophy to Blaj. The chances are equal for both teams, with a slight advantage for Yamamay. We meet an ambitious opponent who plays in a very strong Italian championship and has the advantage of holding strong matches every week; moreover, they will host the second leg in Italy. However, we are only concerned about our play, we want to offer the best possible Volleyball and get a result that gives us hopes for the second leg.”
Nneka Onyejekwe, captain of CSM Volei Alba BLAJ: “It will be a very difficult game, but I want to think that we will tackle it with the utmost seriousness and, with the help of the fans, will manage to beat the Italian team. We have chances, but I think Yamamay are a little favourite, because they are playing in a very strong championship, having the experience of strong matches, but we have also shown that we can play at the highest level and, if we have two very good days, we can surprise them.”
Double winner of the CEV Cup (2010 and 2012) and finalist in 2017, Yamamay e-work travel to Sibiu after an impressive series of victories, eight from as many matches, and with the intention of stretching this streak even further.
Marco Mencarelli, coach of Yamamay e-work BUSTO ARSIZIO: “We are in the final and we know that it will not be an easy match; however, it won’t be an easy match for the other team too. The Finals are not easy anywhere you play such matches. The Finals are games that both teams have achieved through a selection process and therefore such matches cannot be easy. Our approach will be particularly aggressive from a tactical point of view because we know perfectly well that we must be decisive and determined in the first match so that it gives us the possibility to play the return match in the best conditions. We will do everything to be aggressive starting from the first ball of the first set.”
Alessia Gennari, captain of Yamamay e-work BUSTO ARSIZIO: “I am really proud of my team, because we have been playing as a team and won every match until now. Now, we have the last steps against a strong team, Alba BLAJ. We know that they are a good team, they won against Galatasaray and therefore, I think it will be a great final between two great teams, but we really want to win the CEV Cup and we have been preparing for this match very carefully. I want to congratulate both teams for this making it this far in the competition and wish them good luck in the final.”
The Sibiu match will also be a premiere for the player with Romanian roots from Yamamay e-work, Alexandra Botezat, who will play for the first time in Romania, the country of her ancestors. “We come to Romania after a week in which we trained well; we know that Alba BLAJ, as opposed to the teams we have met before, is at our level, so it is going to be a hard game. We will be aggressive from the beginning and will try to capitalise on our strengths. The CEV Cup is our goal for this season and it is important to return home with a favourable result. Personally, I am very happy to play my first match in Romania and I am very curious to see the atmosphere at a Volleyball match in this country.”
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