Ex Polonia player now playing in CEV Champions League!

Slawek Master joined Polonia about six years ago when he wandered into the sports hall during a training session asking if he could join in. At 2.02 metres tall, when he announced that he was actually a setter and represented Poland juniors in a number of years before: we thought he might be “useful”. Slawek proved to be slightly better than useful: he was a very talented individual who was also the life and soul of every session inspiring Polonia to some great results during his three years at the club.

When I took over the coaching mantle, I suggested that Slawek may be able to get some extra training in by joining Great Britain sessions. Luckily for him, (unluckily for Polonia) this was the first step back into professional volleyball for him. His talents were spotted by the coaching staff and Slawek was encouraged to join the GB programme about three years ago. He played for a season in Holland with the squad of talented British athletes who played as Martinus under Coach Harry Brokking.

This season he has returned to his homeland: Poland, where he has been playing alongside the likes of Pavel Abramov for KS Jastrebski Wegiel in the top league in Poland. Last week saw his team defeat last season’s top Italian club: Piacenza containing none other than Leonel Marshall of Cuba, and Hristo Zlatanov of Italy. Their Group E also has German Champions: VfB FRIEDRICHSHAFEN and Panathinaikos ATHENS with possibly the best setter in the world: Pawel Zagumny.

I wonder if this is the highest level of volleyball that any player has played after playing in England?

So do Polonia set yet another record after producing the first crop of professional volleyball players: Marek Banasiewicz, Jurek Jankowski and Alex Bialokoz???

For the latest information on Slawek’s progress go to: www.ksjastrzebskiwegiel.pl