Belgium's national team captain Sam Deroo is already in Novosibirsk and has joined the Lokomotiv squad. The 31-year-old outside hitter joins the team led by an all-Bulgarian coaching staff – Plamen Konstantinov and Andrey Zhekov.
Deroo is well-known to volleyball fans not only for his consistency and leadership qualities, but also for his interest in Bulgaria. The Belgian is a close friend with former national team player Dobriana Rabadzhieva, who inspired him to start learning Bulgarian.
“Because of her, I vowed to learn the language – and now that the coaches are also Bulgarians, I have another good reason,” Sam shares with a smile.
Deroo already knows some Russian, which, according to his own words, will help him in mastering Bulgarian as well. The fact that most of the Belgian's career has been spent in Poland and Russia will also help him in learning the Slavic language. Before joining the "Bulgarian" Loko Novosibirsk, he was part of Zenit Kazan's ranks. He has seasons with Polish clubs Zaksa and Resovia, as well as Russian club Dinamo Moscow, behind him.
After the long flight to Siberia, the Belgian was warmly welcomed by the club and immediately underwent a medical examination.
“Everything is fine. There is already snow – that was a surprise! But the atmosphere is great, the people are friendly, the hall is fantastic. I can’t wait to start,” he says in the video published by Lokomotiv.
The clip also shows footage from the club's gym, where Plamen Konstantinov reminisces about the bronze medal from the 2006 World Championship in Japan, while footage from that memorable event plays on the screen.
By the end of the week, the other Bulgarian, Simeon Nikolov, who is still waiting for his work visa, is expected to arrive in Novosibirsk. Moni will travel together with our national team's assistant coach, Andrey Zhekov, a silver medalist from the World Championship in the Philippines.
“Loko is family – I can already feel it,” says Sam Deroo. “I am ready to play. I really missed volleyball.”
photo:lokovolley.com
