Jan Zimmermann surprisingly left Monza, where he was urgently called up due to the injury of American setter Andrew Rowan. According to Volleyweek, the German international only had three training sessions with the team last week before withdrawing from his commitment and leaving for Poland.
His new team was announced by Polish journalist Jakub Balcerzak. According to his information, 33-year-old Zimmermann is joining ZAKSA (Kędzierzyn-Koźle) and has already been registered for the Polish championship. Balcerzak states that the German will replace Quinn Isaacson, without whom ZAKSA will have to cope for a long time due to health problems.
Zimmermann's departure puts Monza coach Massimo Eccheli in a difficult situation just before the start of the SuperLega. The Italian club was counting on the German, who was familiar with the team, to cover Rowan's absence, but now they are left with only one healthy setter - Leonardo Bonacchi. Bonacchi and Rowan are the two players in this position in the officially published roster.
The American suffered a fractured thumb on his right hand during his participation with the national team in the NORCECA Continental Championship. On September 22, he underwent surgery in the USA, and according to Monza's official announcement, his return to the court is expected at the end of November.
Thus, the team of Bulgarian internationals Jasmin Velichkov and Iliya Petkov faces the start of the season with a problem in a key position. Monza's first match is an away game against newcomer Tinet (Prata di Pordenone) on Sunday, October 18.