Paul Zagumny or "Guma" as he is also known, is born in Jaslo, Poland. His career as a volleyball player does not surprise anyone... Zagumny comes from a family of professional volleyball players. When he was 3 years old his father was bringing him to the volleyball court and making him pass the ball to the players. His first serious steps in sport teams he made in Warsaw, Warsaw Polytechnic and Charni Radom. When he was 23 years old he received an offer from the Italian team Padva. So for three years he plays in Italy, where he learns the mastery from the best European and world volleyball players. After his return from Italy Zagumny plays in the Olshtin team. He has been competing with Panathinaikos’ shirt since 2009.
Testifying for the success of the Pole are all the received awards. During the World Cup in 2006 he was named the best setter. In 2007 he received the title of best setter in the World League. The same title he won at the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008 and during the 2009 European Championships. Zagumny can be proud to have an attack of 336 cm, block of 317 cm and height of... 200 cm (we made sure of this ourselves!).
Find out what the Polish player shared with us minutes after the end of the finals match with Olympiacos:
GRreporter: How do you feel after today's match against Olympiacos?
Pawel Zagumny: When we took the lead in the first set, we could not manage to use the chances we had. I feel bad for this set. The third set was certainly better, but during the second Olympiacos played in its favor. Today they played better. They had more luck. I'm sorry that we lost, of course.
GRreporter: What are your predictions for match that the two teams will play again on Monday?
Pawel Zagumny: As hosts we play better. However, right now we have problems in the team... We are doing whatever we can in order to finish the season in some way... We try to play well.
GRreporter: Yes, Hristofidelis was caught using doping... He had an important role in the team.
Pawel Zagumny: He was an excellent player. It is difficult to replace him. This was proven it today’s match. He is a very experienced player, who has played in many finals... His absence is definitely felt on the court. Now we are trying to play as we are without him.
GRreporter: You are in Greece since 2009. What do you like the most here?
Pawel Zagumny: The climate.
GRreporter: And what don’t you like?
Pawel Zagumny: There are not many things I don’t like... It's difficult to say. I think, at least for now, there's nothing specific I do not like here.
GRreporter: We heard that a few days ago you became a father to a son. Congratulations!
Pawel Zagumny: Yes, his name is Mikolaj. Thank you.
GRreporter: You come from a family of volleyball players. The man who helped you get started in volleyball is your father. Do you plan on following his example and directing your children to the sport or do you intend on letting them make their own choices?
Pawel Zagumny: I am not planning anything yet. I believe things will happen the way they are supposed to. Mikolaj will do whatever he wants... I have a 5-year-old daughter as well. She is often on the court playing with the ball.
GRreporter: You started the same way...
Pawel Zagumny: Yeah, that’s true. However, I will not push my children into anything. We'll see how things develop. For now I do not have any grandiose plans concerning their future.
GRreporter: What is the thing you appreciate the most in playing for Panathinaikos?
Pawel Zagumny: The same feelings accompany players in every team. This is an exceptional group of people who have played for the national team. People who know what this game is all about. Panathinaikos has players with great experience... It is really a shame the way things have developed. If we were in the previous composition, we would be certainly more powerful. This is giving us some hard times...
GRreporter: What qualities must a setter have?
Pawel Zagumny: I never thought about it. I suppose every setter has different qualities. Some are calm and others like energetic... But one thing a setter must be able to do is to make the right choice at the right time.
GRreporter: Which quality of yours do you think helps you the most in the sport?
Pawel Zagumny: I believe the years of experience. The level you reach over time. Playing for so many years gives me the confidence to go out on the court and feel sure in myself...
GRreporter: So then it’s practice?
Pawel Zagumny: I think so. Continuous training and matches, over time, help a person to become more relaxed and play better.
RSS
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
