Hunt for imponderable. Rivals of Zenit-Kazan in the fight for the title of the world club champion
Brazilian Betim will host the 12 th FIVB Volleyball Club World Championship from 19 to 23 October 2016 where Zenit-Kazan will play. Realnoe Vremya tells about rivals of the team in this competition and estimates chances of the Kazan players for the final success.
The only invincible
The title of the world club champions remains the only achievement that Zenit-Kazan did not achieve during its short history. The Kazan players became the champions of Russia eight times, won the Russian Cup five times and the Russian Super Cup four times. They also have four victories in the Champions League matches under their belt. However, the title of the world club champion has not been included in the list of achievements of the Kazan superclub.
Zenit has taken part in four FIVB Volleyball Club World Championships. The best result was achieved last year – they were runners-up. Zenit was defeated by Brazilian Sada Cruzeiro in the final 1-3. The Kazan volleyball players also have two bronze medals they won in 2009 and 2011.
Italian Trentino is the most celebrated club in the history of the tournament. The club became the world champion four times and did it in succession from 2009 to 2012. Medolanium from Italy and Sada Cruzeiro won a victory twice – in 1990, 1992 and in 2013, 2015 respectively. Belogorie is the only Russian club that became the world champion. The club won against Qatari Al-Rayyan in the final in 2014.
In the 2016 FIVB Volleyball Club World Championship, Zenit will play against Sada Cruzeiro and Mets de Guaynabo in the group stage. Another Brazilian club Minas, Taiwanese Taichung and Egyptian Tala'ea El-Gaish will play in the other group. Realnoe Vremya is telling about the competitors of the Club World Championship.
Brazilian Zenit
The first rival of Zenit-Kazan in the championship Sada Cruzeiro is similar to the Kazan players in many respects. The club also was created relatively recently – in 2006. At that time the team did not have any serious goals. However, now it is one of the strongest collectives on the planet.
Sada Cruzeiro has been an absolute leader of its championship in recent years as well as Zenit. The team has become champion four times (2012, 2014, 2015, 2016). Sada Cruzeiro is very strong at the international level. In the South American Volleyball Club Championship, the Brazilian players became winners three times (2012, 2014, 2016). In 2016, Cruzeiro defeated another Brazilian team Funvic Taubaté and won the South American Club Championship. In 2015, Sada Cruzeiro lost against UPCN and won a silver medal.
In the FIVB Volleyball Club World Championship, Sada Cruzeiro has already won two titles (2013, 2015). Last year it did it in the final game against Zenit-Kazan. The Brazilian players were defeated in 2012 by Trentino.
Puerto Rican uncertainty
Puerto Rican Mets de Guaynabo is the only club that has not confirmed its participation in the tournament. The club took part in the Club World Championship in 2014 when it also hesitated whether to play or not. At that time the Puerto Rican players came bottom in their group. They lost against Belogorie, Sada Cruzeiro and Iranian Matin Varamin.
In 2014, the head coach of the Kazan team stated it would be hard to play with the rivals because there was little information about them. I will say more: there is so little information that it is an achievement to write two paragraphs.
The most successful club in Brazil
Brazilian club Minas will play together with Taiwanese Taichung and Egyptian Tala'ea El-Gaish. Minas is the most celebrated club in Brazil. However, all their achievements have been reached recently, but, anyway, it was in the past. The last time they won the local championship in 2007. In general, they have nine such titles (1963, 1964, 1984, 1985, 1986, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2007).
Minas won the South American Volleyball Club Championship five times (1984, 1985, 1999, 2000, 2001), won a silver three times (1986, 1987, 2013) and once, in 2014, took a bronze. They will participate in the World Club Championship as a host team.
Taiwanese Taichung became the winner of the Asian Volleyball Championship in 2015. Moreover, they played as hosts of the competition, and it was their first victory. Egyptian Tala'ea El-Gaish won against Tunisian Espérance in the final of the continental tournament. The club will represent Africa in the world tournament. It also was the first success of the Egyptian players.
Waiting for victory?
Zenit fans got used to victories. This is why the title of the club champions, which the club has not won yet, will be an utter joy – not all teams are able to win all possible titles.
As usual, Sada Cruzeiro will the toughest rival. Generally speaking, no one can compete with this Zenit. This is why the Kazan 'Barcelona' can get closer to its football brother by the end of the competition.