We begin the 2021/22 season with an emphatic win

IBB Polonia London returned to league competition and National Cup competitions in England. Following over a year’s break on the domestic front due to the pandemic, the reigning champions of England took on Sunderland in a long distance away match. On 30th October the game occurred with a significantly different squad to the one based in Poland. Due to various restrictions, a number of the players based in Belchatow are not permitted to play in England. Consequently, the inaugural match of the season was played by the student athletes from Pro Volley Academy and members of the senior team. IBB Polonia London cruised to a win 0-3 (19:25; 25:27; 21:25) and returned to London with all three points.

It was exciting to see a group of young athletes who had been recruited in September 2020 taking part at the highest level in the UK. They were strongly supported by the outstanding English players who flew back to London for the day. Next Saturday, the squad will play Malory Eagles, and on Sunday will play at home against Tendring Essex. More details will be released on social media of all clubs concerned.

Problems caused by Brexit and Covid have meant that the majority of the team have moved to Poland, where thanks to the generosity of PGE Skra Bełchatów, they make full use of their infrastructure of the highest order. There are no sports halls of a high enough standard available in London to play in. In addition no visas are available for overseas players to compete in England in the competitions that started last month. To take part in the league and cup, IBB Polonia London had to find a new solution to a new problem; the solution being to utilise the youngsters who train on a daily basis at Pro Volley Academy, in addition to a number of players from last season who remained in London to work. Two Brits who obviously do not need visas flew to London to join the squad.

In the meantime, in Bełchatów, the main squad has been training and preparing for the CEV Cup matches. This month, IBB Polonia London will play against the Dutch team Orion Doetinchem. Following defeat in the Champions’ League, the next part of the campaign has been a series of friendly games, which has allowed the coaches to analyse the players’ progress before the CEV Cup starts. Recently IBB Polonia London has played against Legia Warszawa and Lechia Tomaszow Mazowiecki, and has been training with their friends PGE Skra Bełchatów. There will be an imminent match with more local rivals.

Most recently more reinforcements have arrived: Norwegian National Team middle blocker Oskar Raftevold has joined the group in Bełchatów.

„Everyone welcomed me with open arms, and they are really easy to get to know. I felt like a part of the group within a few days. The guys are awesome. I joined the club because I thought it would be a good experience to play here. I have never played in the CEV Cup before, so I am really looking forward to it. I expect everyone to do as well as they can to make the team perform as good as possible. I am of course hoping we will make it to the games against Zenit. Playing against them would be awesome!” said Oskar Raftevold, IBB Polonia London middle blocker.