18.10.2013, 08:45 BEHIND THE SCENES: Former line player of Iskra Ceresit Kielce and current sports director of the Polish champions is in the focus of the series presenting people who, despite not being under spotlight during the matches, have an instrumental influence on their clubs. |
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Wasiak: Wolf can lose his teeth, but never his natureIn February 1998 Iskra Ceresit Kielce faced a star-studded team of THW Kiel in the quarter-final of the EHF Cup and, to local fan’s delight, it was the Polish underdog who celebrated a historic victory (28:27). Radoslaw Wasiak, then the line player of Kielce, who is now in charge at Vive Targi as their sports director recalls this match very well. He scored five goals and finished the thrilling fight in a jam-packed arena with a torn left sleeve of his playing shirt. The one goal lead from the first leg proved not to be enough to eliminate titans from Northern Germany, who succeded on the aggregate score after the rematch. After fifteen years that have been passed since that time the Polish team had an opportunity to take a revenge on their opponents at the VELUX EHF FINAL4 last June and they made use of it.
After an exciting third place duel, the players of Bogdan Wenta celebrated a first medal of the VELUX EHF Champions League in the history and Wasiak witnessed the success of his successors from the stands of the LANXESS Arena.
We had the opportunity to play against guys we admired on TV. For our fans, of course, it was also a real attraction! Even now, when I meet elder fans, they get sentimental while reminiscing about that game. In order to attend that match, they had to come about four hours earlier to take a seat. The hall was overcrowded, I remember it. Saying that the fans were our eight player then was fully reasonable. And they still are.
ehfCL.com: It is difficult to reconstruct such an atmosphere nowadays, isn’t it?
We have to be aware of the fact, that in our old hall we could fit maximum 1,500 people, in the Legion Hall even 4,200 fans can watch the spectacle. I’m sure that if the hall had 10,000 seats, on Saturday each of them would be occupied.
Radoslaw Wasiak: You never know what course your life will take. I’ve got an education of a coach, but I wanted to try the other side of the coin. The organisation of sport events and the youth training are very interesting and also very important.
ehfCL.com: You have been connected with the professional handball for a long time now and you have observed it from various perspectives. When did it turn into a real sport business? Where would you place the crucial moment of becoming it as commercial as it is nowadays? ehfCL.com: The German club is full of stars, although their team has changed significantly over the last summer. So what are your expectations for the upcoming match? Radoslaw Wasiak: For sure significant is the fact that four key players left the club, nevertheless it is still a solid team. They have been remaining on the top of European handball and they have been gaining one champion title after the other one in their country, so they are always leading competitors fighting till the end.
If you want to win any match against them, you have to stay focus during the whole game and do more than your best. I could never say that THW is going to win (laugh). I believe in my team, I believe that it is going to be an interesting match. We should win. This is my wish. Photo: Witold Bakalarz TEXT: Magda Pluszewska / br |
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