Because of the earthquake disaster, it will be decided in just one instead of two games whether BR Volleys or Ankara will move into the CL quarter-finals. For the Turkish champion, however, volleyball is currently out of the question.
Matheus Krauchuk looks sadly at his cell phone on the sidelines of the training session. Again and again, the professional at BR Volleys receives pictures, videos and testimonials from those affected by the earthquake in Turkey.
Born in Brazil, he is shocked by the catastrophe that has befallen his old homeland. For years he played in Turkey himself. “My first team there came pretty close to the affected region and even then my wife noticed a lot of earthquakes there,” he says. The fact that it was going to be so violent leaves him speechless.
Actually, Krauchuk was supposed to travel to Turkey with the BR Volleys last week to play the first leg against Ankara in the Champions League playoffs. But because of the earthquake, the government had canceled all events. “Sport is definitely in the background right now. They haven’t trained for days and the association has stopped its work,” says Krauchuk, who still has a few friends in Turkey and also in the Ankara team, with whom he is in is in close contact. “We have to respect the situation and help where we can.”
Two games became one
However, the schedule in European volleyball is tight. The professionals from Ankara don’t have much time to process the situation and the shock. On Wednesday (7:30 p.m.) they have to play the second leg against Volleys in the Max-Schmeling-Halle. And in this first of actually two games, it’s suddenly all or nothing.
Because the canceled game in Ankara will not be repeated. Both clubs agreed on this in accordance with the European Volleyball Federation (CEV). That’s why only the encounter in Berlin will now decide on entering the quarter-finals of the European premier class. The Turkish majority does not seem to be happy with that.
Exhausted and visibly battered, the team landed at BER on Monday. “It’s not the right decision that there will only be one game to go to the quarter-finals. Normally that would be unacceptable,” said coach Mustafa Kavaz upon arrival. “We tried everything to be able to play two games but it was not accepted.” He did not reveal exactly why and to whom these efforts failed.
Volleyball is hard to think of
The guests couldn’t really prepare well for this decisive game in Berlin. In the last few days, it was more about helping those affected by the accident on site. Above all, they brought food to the regions destroyed by the earthquake.
“We will help people until the problem is solved. All professional sports teams in Turkey are doing what they can right now,” said Ankara’s captain Arslan Eksi before he and his teammates played a large Turkish game in front of the BER terminal building held up the flag to show solidarity.
They all know that it will be very difficult for them in the Max-Schmeling-Halle because of the situation. “We can hardly think about volleyball. Of course we trained a bit, but not as usual. We are very sad and try to deal with it as best as possible.
Physically we’re fine, but mentally we’re completely exhausted,” said Kavaz. Nevertheless, his team did not travel to the German capital to lose. “We are here to fight. Also for our country. Maybe we can at least give them some good news.”
Volleys want home advantage
BR volleys diagonal player Krauchuk, who is preparing for a close game, also knows this. “Volleyball is the pride of their country and they will definitely fight and give everything,” said the Brazilian. He too has tried to help as best he can over the past few days. “Especially with money. That’s all you can do from here right now,” he explains.
Despite the circumstances, the Berliners want to make it into the quarter-finals and use the home advantage in this crucial game. “The spectators can expect 100 percent from us, after all it’s an all-or-nothing game for us too,” says Krauchuk. Most recently, the volleys had presented themselves surprisingly weak and suffered a defeat in Lüneburg in the league. Managing Director Kaweh Niroomand believes the odds are now “fifty-fifty” for the game against the Turkish champions.
So the fans will probably get to see an exciting match that both teams will want to win at all costs. And that despite the fact that sport is completely in the background for many of the players.
Broadcast: rbb24, February 14, 2023, 6 p.m
