The wait was very short for the first successes of the 2020 recruits of the amalgamation of IBB Polonia London/Future Stars and Pro Volley Academy. Three of the student athletes have been sent the letter informing them of their selection to the England National Under 18 team. In mid-December, the young athletes headed north to the National Volleyball Centre in Kettering. The short training camp was designed to test the skills of the players as well as to measure their potential in the sport in the international arena.
From the group of thirty, gathered by the Under 18 England Head Coach Keith Trenam (also Head Coach of Sheffield Hallam – league rival of IBB Polonia London), three Pro Volley Academy players had the call up – the captain and setter Gabriel de Gama, receiver Nahome Tewelde and middle blocker Nathan Williams. For two of these players, the call up was the first in their lives, this indicates the success story that the Pro Volley Academy has been in its first year, not only for the players, but for the coaching staff as well (Vangelis Koutouleas and Dominik Zmuda).
“The first effects of the Academy are starting to show. The National Team call up is good evidence that we are producing the next volleyball stars. The best example of this is the middle blocker, who under our guidance, has really developed into a good player already. I am sure the selection will further motivate our young players as well as the coaching staff. We are soon to start our next round of recruitment of rough diamonds that we can shine in the combined fields of academics and volleyball” said Pro Volley Academy Head Coach and IBB Polonia London Head Coach Vangelis Koutouleas.
“The volleyball England camps at Kettering help me to improve my technical abilities and maintain constant focus due to being in contact with the highest level junior players in the country. Coach Keith really impacted my skill level by doing individual setter training during the last camp which was on the 12th of December” said Gabriel De Gama, setter and captain of Pro Volley Academy.
“Attending England Camp in Kettering is a good way for me to carry on bettering myself as a player while representing my country and my team, taking what I have been taught and applying it to my training and gameplay there. Being a new recruit, I notice the skill level and ability of the players is high and vary quite differently and I look forward to training and playing with them in the future” said Nathan Williams, middle blocker of Pro Volley Academy.
“Going to England camps help me know how and what should I improve on by competing with others all around the country. It is a very good experience and motivates me to do better as I will be competing with them in National Cups” said Nahome Tewelde, outside hitter of Pro Volley Academy.
All of this indicates that this is just the beginning for these young players.
The project has an amazing potential and it shows how much work has already been put into the Academy. In just a few months, the coaching staff have managed to raise the level of the players to allow them the opportunity to join the National Team.
The next round of recruitment will take place for the 2021/2022 school year. The Pro Volley Acdemy programme takes place at Northolt high School, London in which student athletes ages 16-19 have a fully integrated academic and sporting full time programme. For further information please get in touch using the following contact: coach@provolley.london
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