New captain at PGE VIVE! A. Wolff: I want to be a leader on and off the court

From the 2019/20 season the PGE VIVE Kielce team will have a new captain. It’s the new player of the Polish Champions, whose transfer has long been a source of great interest for fans and the media, and who from the moment of his arrival in Kielce has quickly won the sympathy of the fans and his teammates.

After the 2018/2019 season we said goodbye to the legend of our club, Michał Jurecki. Michał devoted ten seasons to the PGE VIVE Kielce team and was also its captain in recent years. In the matches, when Michał was injured, he was replaced as captain by Mateusz Jachlewski, an equally prominent player for PGE VIVE Kielce. The winger has the longest experience in the Polish Champions team because this summer he begins his fourteenth season and was a natural candidate to assume the role of captain on a regular basis, but due to the hip surgery Mateusz will not join the team on the pitch in the first part of the season. Therefore, from the season 2019/20, Andreas Wolff became the new captain of PGE VIVE Kielce.

At first I was a little surprised by this offer, because becoming a captain after just a few days in a new team is something very unusual – comments the new captain of PGE VIVE Kielce with a smile – the coaches chose me as captain, so I would like to help the team with all my experience gained in previous years in reaching the Final4 of the Champions League, which is an obvious goal every season. I'll have to learn Polish even faster now because I'll be responsible for a lot of things in the team! The plan is a bit difficult, but I'm very enthusiastic about it.

The decision is commented by Sławomir Szmal, currently coach of PGE VIVE Kielce goalkeepers, former player of Kielce and the Polish national team.

I think it's a very good idea – says Kasa – Andi is a significant figure when it comes to team performance, he is very hardworking, and he has settled in the team very well, becoming a positive figure and contributing to the team spirit after just a few days. He does not behave like a star, but he is a person who can express what he means and most of all - the team listens to him. He approaches everyone, chats up, he is protective. Just like a captain who cares about his team.

Kasa himself, while still an active player, was the captain of the Polish national team, so he knows very well whether the goalkeeper is good for this role.  

There were a few goalkeepers who were captains, for instance Kasper Hvidt or Henning Fritz – says Kasa – It's a good position for a captain, because you're not emotionally involved with what's happening on the pitch all the time. There are moments when you are standing aside and pushing your emotions aside, and then you can motivate your team to keep going.

From the very beginning of his stay in Kielce, Andi arouses positive emotions among the players, fans and journalists who have already had the pleasure of meeting him. He is very outgoing, sociable, he is learning Polish quickly and can say a lot in our language already. Andi himself seems to feel very well in his new role.

I think that I am a person who has their own beliefs and can express their opinion clearly, so when it comes to arranging something for the team, such as talking to coaches or meeting with the president of the city, it is not a problem, I’m happy to represent the team – Andreas assures – I also get emotional and I hope that I’ll be able to communicate with every player. I would love to be a leader both on and outside the court.

I am perfectly aware that there are great Polish players in the team, such as Krzysztof Lijewski and Mariusz Jurkiewicz, or players with more experience, such as Julen Aginagalde – says the coach of PGE VIVE, Talant Dujshebaev – All of them contribute a lot to this team. However, they will probably leave us in the next season, and we want to build a team for years to come. Andreas is a terrific captain and I think it's also a great thing for him.

Sławomir Szmal is of a similar opinion.

I've never had a problem with someone new becoming a captain – admits Kasa – The most important thing is the welfare of the team, and the team has accepted this choice, so I think it's a good idea.

Alex Dujshebaev and Igor Karacić will take the roles of vice-captains.

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This article was translated by FATIX. If you are looking for professional translation services, check them up at www.fatix.eu