21/02/2016 16:41
Russian derby highlights second leg of CL Playoffs 12
2016 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League - Women
Kazan, Russia, February 21, 2016. This coming Wednesday, February 24, two Russian giants – Dinamo KAZAN and Uralochka-NTMK EKATERINBURG – will be crossing their ways for a second time in the Playoffs 12 of the 2016 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League – Women to determine which side will be continuing its journey in Europe’s premier club competition. Dinamo KAZAN claimed the first matchup (3-1) played some ten days ago in Ekaterinburg.
The Drawing of Lots for the Playoffs 12 and the calendar of the Russian Superleague have provided a curious situation where Dinamo KAZAN are hosting Uralochka for two consecutive matches, with the one for the Russian national championship on schedule for February 21 and the re-match in the Playoffs 12 of Europe’s elite competition following only three days later. There is therefore very little time left for any celebrations following Sunday’s matchup in the Russian league.
However, Rishat Gilyazutdinov, the head coach of Dinamo KAZAN, said that such a situation with two matches in a row does not give him any shivers, and he believes in his players, their professionalism, persistence and commitment to victory.
Having said that, he gives the rival its due - the legendary Russian coach Nikolay Karpol and his no less legendary team Uralochka, being an eight-time winner of the former CEV Champions Cup, celebrate this year the 50th anniversary since the club’s foundation: “It is a tremendous achievement for Russian Volleyball that we have such club as Uralochka, famous for its victories, and led by an undisputed leader, Nikolay Karpol. It represents a Volleyball school which has been renowned for several generations of much-celebrated Volleyball players trained by Karpol. I would like to congratulate the club on that landmark anniversary and wish ever-lasting flourishing and financial stability to sustain their unique way and philosophy of training both young players and future stars of Russian and world Volleyball, and hope they will be able to celebrate many more victories in the domestic and international arena,” Gilyazutdinov said.
Dinamo KAZAN have ‘only’ one gold medal from the most prestigious European tournament so far. But that fact won’t discourage Dinamo KAZAN fans that will pack the stands of the Saint Petersburg Volleyball Centre to passionately cheer for their favourite team and open their way to the Playoffs 6 of the 2016 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League whose climax will be reached with the Final Four scheduled for April 9-10 in Montichiari, Italy and hosted by Pomì CASALMAGGIORE.
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