Kuusamo won the first volleyball championship in the history of the club in front of the crowded home audience on Sunday. The gold medal tastes sweet in the city and will be celebrated on Tuesday at a folk festival at Kuusamo Sports Hall.
Päivi Annala,
Ensio Karjalainen
Kuusamo is celebrating its first Finnish volleyball championship.
The championship broke out at the end of exciting final matches at home on Sunday night, when Pallo-Karhut won the decisive game Kangasala 3-1. Kuusamo had lost their previous two matches, but regrouped in front of a crowded home spectator at a crucial moment.
Judging by the success in the speeches of Kuusamo, you can hear how closely the team’s journey towards the championship has been followed. Luukas Niemelä says she has been watching the women’s team games for many years.
– Now came the victory, so it’s great. The level of the team has gradually improved. Strength is team play, there is a good spirit.
Merja Takkula says he has taken everything out of the championship since Sunday night.
– Yes, we have been enjoyed!
Takkula has followed Kuusamo’s progress in the series largely through the media.
– The situation has been nervous all the time. The team has been really strong and good and they have had the will to fight.
The importance of the home spectator for the championship is great
Chairman of Kuusamo Pallo-Karhujen and manager of the volleyball team Mika Määttä highlights the importance of the championship for the whole community.
– It feels very good, even though I have already slept overnight. This is a matter for our whole community, and I am particularly proud of it. Our loyal fans always came to the hall time and time again, sometimes well in advance of the players in the hall.
The championship will immediately create pressure for the next season. Määttä says that he started office work as a manager on Monday morning. Preparations for the next season have been made during the spring and now the work is really starting.
– Through roles, you have to go get players for the future. We are also aiming for Europel next season, we are aiming for it.
Määttä is not going to predict the extent to which the team that has now won the championship will stay together next season. Long-term work has been done with the winning team. Negotiations are taking place this week, but there will be turnover as well.
– Let’s have a party first. Some stop, some want to try their wings on Central European fields. Time will tell. You will definitely get very good players for the seats.
As a result of the championship, a folk festival will be held at Kuusamo Sports Hall on Tuesday, April 26 at 5 pm.