FORMER DUTCH VOLLEYBALL STARS FOR COACHES’ COURSE IN BELGRADE

Men's Indesit European Championship 2005

Belgrade, September 4, 2005. The European Championship in Belgrade is not only an event for the current volleyball stars. During the first three days of play the tournament was visited by 15 former Dutch volleyball stars who follow a special coaches’ course for former top players, organised by the Dutch volleyball federation NeVoBo.

Amongst the 15 ex-stars are Peter Blange, Ron Zwerver, Bas van de Goor and Olof van der Meulen, all winners of the 1996 Olympic Gold and many other international titles. Combining the total matches these 15 players have played for the Dutch national team, the number adds up to an impressive 2’099.

The Dutch players, of which most are coaches at a high level in Netherlands, watched and analysed the matches in Belgrade. Teachers for the course were Joop Alberda (golden coach of the 1996 Olympic gold team), former Dutch national team coach and FIVB Technical Commission Secretary Peter Murphy and Sports Media Consultant and CEV Press Delegate Arjen Meijer who gave a presentation about the organising of media matters and the relation between coaches and media during international sporting events.

All 15 former volleyball stars enjoyed their stay in Belgrade discovering that they were still extremely popular. Many fans asked for autographs, whilst the international media took the opportunity to interview the stars.