17/04/2013 16:00
Slovenian team feels the love in Laktaši
2013 CEV Youth Volleyball European Championship - Boys
Laktaši, Bosnia and Herzegovina, April 17, 2013. Although Bosnia and Herzegovina plays host to Pool I of the 2013 CEV Youth Volleyball European Championship – Boys, it is the fans of Slovenia that outnumber all others to make their favorite team feel at home in Laktaši. They come to the stands in large numbers to cheer for their boys. You cannot miss them. They are the ones that create the fantastic atmosphere in the competition hall, and you can recognize them by the inscription on their green T-shirts - I FEEL sLOVEnia.
A bus full of fans from Ljubljana, Maribor, Celje and Novo Mesto arrived on the first day of competition. Another bus brought the fans from the region of Dolenjska. They have been staying in Laktaši and supported their team at every single match. Others drive 500 kilometers every day just to cheer the young Slovenian squad.
"Nothing is difficult when it comes to our Slovenian team. We like this kind of competitions and we are sorry that they do not last longer,” Sebastian Cimasek, president of a Slovenian volleyball club and one of the loudest fans at Laktaši sports palace, stated. ”Bosnia and Herzegovina is near - three hours of driving and we are here.”
"This is great. Unfortunately, we are unlikely to make the semi finals, but regardless, we will stay with our team till the end,” another Slovenian fan, Matjaz Gregor, added. ”I must say that we are delighted with the sports hall in Laktaši. We have watched matches of the local basketball team Igokea on TV, but it looks even better to see it in person.”
Of course, this kind of support is well appreciated by the team itself. According to Slovenian head coach Iztok Ksela, it means a lot to his players. "We have players from many Slovenian clubs. Only one club has two players in our national team and the president of that club is one of the organizers of the fans”, Ksela explained. ”The parents of our boys also come often to the games. Since Slovenia is not far from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the fans have no problem joining us in large numbers. I must say that we are very proud of them. I am sorry that we lost the match against Italy. If we had won that, I am sure that the stands would be completely full.”
All matches in Pool I are streamed live on LAOLA1.tv here.
Click here for more information, including schedule, results, statistics and standings.
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