UPDATE: Stokr & Team Dinamo Krasnodar lost their quarterfinal match to Kemerova and failed to qualify for the Final 6.
On Wednesday Czech giant Jan Stokr will try to cap his first season in Russia’s Superleague by qualifying for the Final Six with his star-studded team, Dinamo KRASNODAR. Stokr is only one step away from making the last stage of what is unanimously considered the world’s most competitive league and will need a home victory over Kuzbass KEMEROVO to make it to Ekaterinburg, venue of the Final Six. After a memorable time in Italy with the likes of TRENTINO, Stokr is still hungry for more success and reflects on his plans for the future, sending out some thoughts also to his Italian fans who one day – who knows – may have the opportunity to cheer once more on the player that the Russian fans have nicknamed “Terminator”.
After spending most of his career in Italy, Jan decided to move to Russia and more specifically to Krasnodar. The season is now drawing to a close, so which are the pros and cons to take from this decision? “When I decided to move to Russia, I thought that there were only four teams playing at the highest level here, i.e. those participating in the European Cups. However, I soon had to realize that there are 8-9 excellent teams that can all fight at eye level. I think that the level of the Italian national league is now lower than what you get here in Russia. This is evidenced by the fact that two Russian teams – Zenit KAZAN and Belogorie BELGOROD – played in this year’s Final Four of the CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League while no Italian teams qualified for the last act of the competition. I can only say that I am happy with playing in the world’s strongest league. And by the way, there are also many foreign players here right now, including some from Italy,” Stokr says.
The Russian league is definitely the strongest and most competitive in the world right now. How do you cope, for example, with the challenge of having to travel long distances every weekend? Is there anything else you would single out as specific to the Russian league and the local Volleyball environment? “We are flying all the time. We have to undertake very long flights. If we travel to Novy Urengoy or to Surgut, for instance, we first fly for a couple of hours to Moscow, have a transit there and then spend another few hours to make it to our final destination. Sometimes we almost spend the whole day on our way to the venue of the next match. Things were very different in Italy where we always travelled by bus. But you know Italy is not as huge as Russia! On the other hand, I really like Krasnodar: I live in a flat which is just nearby the city centre, the offices of our club, as well as close to our stadium and our fitness centre. I love the fact that I can go to each of these places by walk because I am not fond of driving. However, it wouldn’t be the same in Siberia, where it is very cold compared to Krasnodar. This is a great city!”
What about the language and the interaction with the other members of your team? “The language does not represent a problem at all,” says Stokr who – because of his incredibly muscular frame and terrific power – has been nicknamed “Terminator” by the Russian fans, “our head coach Javier Weber and his assistant Yaroslav Antonov speak excellent Italian and many of my teammates have a good knowledge of English. On top of this, I also speak Russian. We have a very good ambiance within the team and we all are close friends.”
In the Playoffs you still need one more victory over Kuzbass KEMEROVO to make the Final Six in Ekaterinburg. Which is the goal you have set for the remainder of the season? “There is only one option which is to win our fifth match with Kuzbass and make the Final Six,” says the Czech giant. “And if we get to play there, our only aim shall be the victory. In the matches we lost to Kuzbass we had problems in defence and reception. We received very poorly and so we paved the way with gold to our opponent. If we make the Final Six and we play there with focus, determination and patience, without panicking if our opponent is leading by two or three points, then we stand a fair chance to win. Our opponents will also make errors and we shall exploit them, turn their mistakes into an advantage for us. I think we can set the highest goals even for the last stage of the national league,” Stokr reckons.
The Czech national team will be back in action in the World League after many years. Which are the plans you have for the international season? Will you try to help the Czech team qualify for the next edition of the European Championship or will you have a break before the World League? “I still do not know. I already spoke to our coach and informed him that after the last stage of the Russian league, I would like to take some rest. I have spent my time here in Russia away from my family, and this has been very hard to cope with, so once the season comes to a close, I would love to spend most of my free time with my wife and son. This means that I am planning a short break. Of course, I am not ruling out any contribution to the national team, but first I would like to enjoy a short break.”
The Czech team disappointed at last year’s European Championship, now there is a new coach and a new course has started. What do you think the team can achieve this year? “You know, we have a problem in our national team: every year the roster undergoes many changes. This way the team can’t progress. In order to achieve good results you need to work together for two-three years. Right now the team needs to spend more time working and practicing together. We also need new, young players. Once these conditions are all fulfilled, results will follow.”
Last year, by the time you and your family left Trento, you were very emotional and found it difficult to leave many friends behind. Is there any memories from your time there you would like to share or a message you want to send to all of your fans in that city? “You know, I love that place. I can reveal that I have dream: one day, when I will be 40, I would like to come back to Trento and to finish my career there. Everything there is just great; I have the sweetest memories from that city and team.”
Last January you turned 31 and you are now at the pinnacle of your career. After winning the Champions League and the Club World Championship with Trentino, what do you think you can achieve more? “I am 31 now, but in my heart I am still 20,” he jokes. “By the way, with Trentino I did not win everything you may want or desire, like for instance the CEV Volleyball Cup. So this is something that I definitely want to add to my personal collection,” he continues. “And anyway, like any other athlete, I always have goals, and the first one is to win. However, on top of my list, I would like to stay healthy and continue to play until I am 40.”
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