Azerbaijani volleyball player Polina Rahimova is eagerly anticipating the new season. After a busy year in Brazil, she returned to Europe and will play for Greek club Panionios. In an interview with Idman.biz, Polina spoke about her South American chapter, the new challenge ahead, and her chances of returning to the national team.
The season in Brazil was quite eventful and emotional, winning the championship, the Cup, and the Paulista Championship. Usually, after such a schedule, some athletes experience a bit of emotional burnout during the offseason. What are your thoughts on this?
“I didn’t feel any emotional burnout because I had an extensive tour across South America. My vacation was packed, I visited Colombia and Ecuador, saw the sights, and even received a certificate for balancing a chicken egg on the equator. The line there is so perfectly flat with no gravity effect that you can place an egg on a nail, and it will stay in the same position. Then I visited Peru, exploring five historical Incan cities. After that, I went to Buenos Aires before returning to Brazil. Such a full travel schedule was quite exhausting, so I decided not to continue the South American tour, even though I initially planned to visit Uruguay as well.
So, although the season in Brazil ended, I didn’t feel any emotional emptiness. I felt great joy from the results we achieved, and before returning to Istanbul, I was able to meet my fans through the club. During the meeting, the trophies and my medals were presented so people could enjoy the moment, hold the trophies, and take souvenir photos. The meeting was memorable and warm. I always value my fans and thank them for their support.”
At one point, you played in the Brazilian league for Sesi Volei, and now you achieved success with Osasco. Is there a difference in experience between that season and the last one?
“Honestly, the only difference in experience was between the cities I lived in. Sesi Volei was based in Bauru, six hours from Sao Paulo. Osasco is just 40 minutes from that metropolis. Living in a big city changes your perspective completely. There’s also a large Ukrainian diaspora there, so I could speak my native language with new friends. I also learned Portuguese because very few teammates spoke English. So, there was constant communication, for which I’m very grateful. In this sense, Bauru and Osasco were different. In Bauru, I had only a few close friends with whom I had a family-like bond. In Osasco, I had a broad circle of acquaintances, which created a homely atmosphere. It never felt like I was abroad.”
In recent years, you’ve played in Vietnam, Turkiye, and Indonesia. But can it be said that it was precisely after your championship season in Brazil that you proved Polina Rahimova is still part of the world volleyball scene and remains in demand?
“I don’t agree with that way of putting it. I’ve always been on my own orbit. For example, in Vietnam, I helped the club ‘Thai Binh’ win the championship again after 15 years. Results always depend on the team because one person alone cannot win a game. The same applies to the national team. When there are several key players performing at a high level, the rest of the girls will step up as well. So I remain on my orbit; it’s just that age-related nuances make themselves felt.”
After a year in Brazil, you’re returning to Europe. What determined your choice in favor of Greek club Panionios?
“I had offers from various clubs. But I had never played in Greece, and I like setting myself new challenges. There was an opinion that Greek club volleyball wasn’t very strong or in demand, but this year I saw that many world-class players are moving there. The level of volleyball is rising, so I became interested in trying myself in the Greek league. Another draw was that the club is located close to Istanbul, where I live, just a 1 hour 15-minute flight. Though, considering Istanbul traffic, the flight might be shorter than the trip from the airport to home (laughs). Being in Greece means I won’t be far from home, won’t have to adjust to a big time difference, and can always stay in touch with my friends and loved ones.”
It was recently announced that your transfer became the biggest in the history of Greek club volleyball. How overwhelming was this news personally for you?
“I don’t consider my transfer the biggest. But yes, it caused a lot of noise (laughs). At Panionios, they said my move is considered the most high-profile, not in terms of the fee, but on a global scale, because of my name. In the world ranking, I’m still in the top 100, currently at 86th. It dropped a bit because I don’t play for the national team and can only earn points through club competitions. Many Top-100 players compete in Poland, Italy, Turkiye, Brazil, and not all of them choose Greece. So, for the local league, the news of my transfer is like a transfer bomb. And it comes with additional responsibility.”
Do you manage to follow Azerbaijani volleyball? Can you share your perspective from the outside?
“Honestly, I haven’t been following it closely. Only recently did I subscribe to all the pages of clubs competing in the Super League. It’s great that club volleyball continues to develop in Azerbaijan, and there is youth to invest in. Of course, in terms of genetic traits relevant to our game, local girls lag behind Slavic players, but that doesn’t mean we should give up or write off the future. You can find a few talented players and then shape them into top athletes for the national team. That’s what Faig Garayev did in his time. Of course, foreign players need to come too, show their level, and serve as examples for local athletes. That will create healthy competition. I believe things are moving in the right direction, volleyball needs to keep developing, with not only financial investment but also heart and soul, so something meaningful can be achieved.”
A question that interests many: will Polina return to the national team for the home European Championship?
“Right now, I’m not making predictions. The older you get, the more you think about completing the season without injuries. So I can’t promise anything now, but I know many people are waiting for me at the European Championship. Currently, I’m focused on my own condition. I won’t make promises, but I also won’t say no. There’s a possibility I’ll return. This year, I went to Baku for five days, had meetings with the federation leadership, and met friends. I see that people want me back, and I might want to dive into that atmosphere again, but let’s not predict ahead of time. Everything depends on how the season in Greece goes.”
You’ve probably thought about what you want to do after your career ends. And how many more years do you see yourself playing top-level volleyball?
“I think the question of an active career length should be considered after each season, how you feel not only physically but also mentally. Psychological well-being is important, your readiness not only for specific matches but also for constant travel to different countries, living out of a suitcase. So I can’t say exactly how long I’ll continue in top-level volleyball, but I have enough time to enjoy it and not feel that it was wasted. As for what I’ll do afterward, I have an FIVB Level 2 coaching certification. I could try that path. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll think of something else. For now, I don’t have big plans after my career, maybe I’ll take a break, travel, and then see where things go.”
Zaki Feyzullayev
Idman.biz
