An interview with Azerbaijani national volleyball team player Polina Rahimova for Idman.biz
- You became Brazilian champion with Osasco. How would you describe this victory?
- My feelings are mixed. There’s both joy and a bit of sadness. When I joined the club, I was supposed to be in the starting lineup. We trained accordingly. But when the championship began, the coach decided to put a local player in the starting lineup. So I had to come in during certain matches or as a substitute. Still, I tried to play at the highest level whenever I was on the court, and I succeeded. Even though I didn’t play much, my stats are among the best. I’m very happy with my performance.
- How would you evaluate the season overall?
- At the start of the season, we won the Paulista Championship, which is a regional tournament. Then we played in the Brazilian Cup, which featured the top eight teams. We won that as well, becoming cup champions. Throughout the season, we also played in the Brazilian Championship. In the semifinals, we faced the very strong Minas team. They have famous players and their head coach, Nicola Negro, worked with me in Azerbaijan a few years ago. They had been champions for several consecutive years. We lost the first semifinal match, but won the return match 3–2. The final match was on their home court, and they were the favorites. But we won 3–0 and advanced to the final. We played well in the decisive match, won, and took home the Brazilian Championship gold medal.
- If you compare the Brazilian and Azerbaijani leagues, what differences would you point out?
- There’s not a huge difference between the two leagues. We played the cup matches under the new rules being tested in volleyball. That was interesting.
- From what you’ve said, it seems like you’re leaving Osasco. Or are you considering extending your contract?
- The games have just ended, so I’ll take a bit of rest now. Next season, I’ll be playing in Greece with Panionis.
- How will your experience abroad affect your play with the Azerbaijani national team?
- With these big achievements, we’re raising the profile of Azerbaijani volleyball. I’m very happy that I’ve been able to help with the development and recognition of Azerbaijani volleyball. With the results we’ve achieved as a team, I can raise our flag even higher with pride. That’s very important because I believe everything we do is for the growth of our volleyball. Finally, I want to thank everyone who congratulated and supported me on the championship. I’ve received lots of congratulatory messages. I’m grateful to all the fans.
Aytac Sahed
Idman.biz
