International stars and local fans will try to help Panathinaikos to make it through the League Round

News from the clubs

Athens, Greece, November 26, 2009. Once again Greece’s PANATHINAIKOS Athens participates in the most prestigious club competition worldwide, i.e. the CEV Indesit Champions League. Yesterday evening, at the famous hotel of Athens “Saint George Lycabbetus” the President of the Panathinaikos Volleyball Team, Mr. Theodore Liakopoulos, the coach Mr. Stelios Kazazis and the captain Sotirios Pantaleon agreed that it is a great honor for the team to participate once again in the CICL.
The fate of Panathinaikos didn’t change from last year as far as a difficult pool is concerned. The Greeks have again ambitious and really good opponents in Pool E but the goal is the same: “enjoy volleyball and go for the second round”!
Mr. Liakopoulos stated: “This year, Panathinaikos overcame a “storm” in the summertime, we faced some difficulties. I think we succeeded in making it through. We created a very good team and what we need is to have peace and health”.
The captain of the team, Sotirios Pantaleon, said: "Another European season starts. It is a very nice feeling, the best one you can live as an athlete. It is a very competitive tournament and an incredible experience in many senses. I think the Champions League is a kind of event that re-assembles all the top players. It is an honour for Panathinaikos to participate and I hope we can do our best”.
Last but not least, the coach of Panathinaikos Stelios Kazazis stated: "From next week we will start our campaign in the European top competition. It is a test to measure our forces at all levels. We are in a difficult group and we have to do great efforts to qualify for the next phase. All the teams, PIACENZA, FRIEDRICHSHAFEN and JASTRZEBSKI have excellent rosters. On the other hand, my team is very good and we should make our game to beat them. We want our fans to be with us at every match. Organizationally we are well prepared, I trust the people working for us. I repeat that I hope the fans will make the difference”!
Two international stars that recently shined out at the European Championships in Turkey joined Panathinaikos for the 2009/2010 season. Setter Pawel Zagumny, who notched gold in Izmir with the Polish team resumed for the first time to Athens in his long career and promises to display some world-class volleyball also during the Champions League: “It is my first time in this competition! I have very high expectations. We are in a difficult pool but I wish to win as many matches as we can! I think the first success would be to qualify for the Playoffs”.
France’s Guillaume Samica bagged silver at the European Championships and now joins Zagumny after both had clashed for a dazzling match in Izmir: “It’s the first time that I am going to participate in this prestigious competition. I am ready to give my best. The first match is against my former team from Poland and I m going to play with all my heart there and do the same for the remaining games in our pool. If we pass this round, everything will be possible in the Playoffs”.
Finally, Nikos Smaragdis joined Panathinaikos after having competed last year with Iraklis THESSALONIKI and having lost the final match against TRENTINO in Prague, so now it is time to seek for a “distant” revenge: “Panathinaikos is a top club and we have to give our best in order to win the National Championship, Greek Cup and - why not – also the CEV Indesit Champions League”.