10/05/2020 10:00
#AskMeAnything with… Robert Täht
#PasstheTime
Luxembourg, May 10, 2020. At 26 years of age, Robert Täht is the undisputed star of Estonian Volleyball together with Oliver Venno and the long-term captain of the national team, the experienced setter Kert Toobal. Täht was fortunate enough to play for Italy’s standout Sir Colussi Monini PERUGIA this season, even though he could not achieve some of his goals as the coronavirus pandemic brought competition to a standstill – and eventually to an abrupt end. Waiting for some sort of normality to return, Täht has made himself available to answer questions from the fans in another episode of our #AskMeAnything series.
“It makes me sad that we could not finish the season but that’s life. The goal was to win everything, but we did manage to get the Supercup. However, two of the biggest challenges were still ahead of us [the playoffs of the national league and the knockout stage of the CEV Champions League] and I think we would have had great chances at winning them both. I had a great opportunity to play in the same team with some of the best Volleyball players in the world and Sirmaniaci [the fans of the Italian club] were simply amazing. So yes, of course, I miss it all!” Täht wrote.
Robert admits he started playing when he was only nine years old and after this, his life has essentially revolved around Volleyball and Beach Volleyball. After spending a few years in Poland, he moved to Turkey, wearing the shirt of Arkas IZMIR in his Champions League debut. “Maybe I will return to Turkey one day, why not? I really enjoyed my season there. Arkas had an amazing organisation and some of my teammates will remain friends for life,” Robert says.
Speaking of role models, Täht a bit surprisingly does not choose anyone from the Volleyball world. “The legend himself - Kobe Bryant. I was utterly devastated when I heard what happened with him. He was not just a basketball player. He was an icon for all sportspeople and especially a role model for my generation. “The mamba mentality” is the best way to make your dreams come true.”
Robert Täht is a winner of the 2016 edition of the European League with Team Estonia, where he received the award for the Most Valuable Player as well
With two European League titles on his resume and the MVP award from the 2016 Finals in Varna, Täht has no doubt when asked to pick the most memorable moment of his career thus far. “I need to go a few years back. It was at the 2015 edition of EuroVolley, when we had the chance to make it among the Top 8 and it would have been a historic moment for Estonian Volleyball. We had to beat Serbia. We managed to take a 2-0 lead but in the end the stronger team on the day came back and won 3-2. I remember that one player changed the course of the match after the second set. It was my friend Bata [Aleksandar Atanasijevic].”
Täht was a member of a star-studded team this year, sometimes did not play as much as he wanted and yet he takes positives from his time with PERUGIA. “I wish I had more chances to be on the court but I guess it was not to be. In the late stages of the season, I started to feel more and more confident and I had the feeling that in the playoffs I could have been more helpful for the team. One thing is for sure: I gave everything to the team so I have no regrets. The atmosphere was all the time incredible. I enjoyed it both on and off the court, especially the songs and the cheering of the fans at PalaBarton. Sirmaniaci is the best fan club you can wish for; they have a great sense of humour and they support the club no matter what.”
Robert seems to be taking lessons anywhere he goes. “Training methods are about coaches and every coach has a different way to work. Vital Heynen maybe has the strangest way but it is also a good way. The biggest difference is that in Italy the season was so busy. At some point, we almost did not have the time to practice. It was just game after game. In Turkey, on the other hand, it was so easy to travel. We went almost everywhere with the airplane. This thing especially in Volleyball is sort of unique.”
Watch out for Robert, for he is going to be one of the home stars when Estonia play host to the final stage of EuroVolley Men in 2021!
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