TURIN. Tuomas Sammelvuon coached by Kędzierzyn-Koźle has the match ball in the volleyball Champions League final. The opposing team Jastrzębie has had to deliver an easy ball to the opposite side, and at the end, the roaring Polish audience counts the touches before the decision. When Trzy, which means three in Polish, is fresh in the hall, Koźle’s star player Bartosz Bednorz hit the ball past a one-man save and time seems to stand still.
The crowd freezes ready to celebrate, but the ball lands a few centimeters on the wrong side of the end line.
The victory in four sets slips out of Kędzierzyn-Koźle’s hands, when Jastrzębie turns the set into a victory after an attack error. The solution is sought in the fifth installment. The expression on Tuomas Sammelvuo’s face doesn’t even waver, but there is definitely turmoil in his head.
Two years ago in Tokyo, the Finn was the head coach of the Russian national team, a few points away from the Olympic gold, but France finally struggled to win the fifth set. Sammelvuo, who collected himself for a long time after the defeat, admitted after the final that losing the Olympic victory “hurt terribly”.
It takes iron nerves not to bring back painful memories during the fifth leg of the Champions League final. On the other hand, a lot has happened in Sammelvuo’s life outside the volleyball halls during the abundant year.
Russian war of aggression
In February 2022, Russia started a war of aggression against Ukraine. At the same time, the Finnish coach was the head coach of both the Russian national volleyball team and Zenit St. Petersburg. Sammelvuo’s wife, on the other hand, is Ukrainian.
A day after the Russian attack, Zenit announced that Sammelvuo had resigned. According to Sammelvuo, the contract with the Russian national team had already expired before the start of the war, and no new one had been signed. In May, the country’s association announced that the Finn would not continue as the head coach of the national team.
However, Sammelvuo received a lot of criticism and even hate mail because it did not comment on the situation in public. He had stayed in Russia to arrange, among other things, his housing matters and his spouse’s visa matters. At the end of May, Sammelvuo responded to the criticism it received in ‘s Urheiluhullut program.
The war in Ukraine is still personally close to Tuomas Sammelvuo’s life. Worry Alina– the situation of the wife’s family living in Ukraine is continuous.
However, the brutal war of aggression started by a great power does not break relations with people who have become important in Russia over the years.
– Still, for example now that Kazan won the championship, players and coaches from there have been in contact. Those human contacts won’t disappear anywhere, and there’s no need to, Sammelvuo tells Urheilu in Turin.
Sammelvuo received criticism for not leaving Russia immediately after the war started. However, he also wanted to handle things with his former employer and players “as they should normally be handled between people”. Relinquishing my former life in Russia was successful in all practical terms.
– Everything is well organized and there is no problem, says Sammelvuo.
A new beginning in Poland
Sammelvuo, who has done impressive work in the Russian national team and in the Super League for years, signed a contract with the Polish league during the spring of the war.
The Finn’s background behind the eastern border was not seen as a problem in a country whose political attitude towards Russia is one of the strictest in Europe.
A new coach was found in Kędzierzyn-Koźle, the top team that won the previous two Champions League trophies, where Sammelvuo had already played one season just under 15 years ago.
A new coaching culture was ahead. Sammelvuo had only coached in Russia and the Finnish national team in his career before moving to Poland. The pressures and expectations in a successful club in a volleyball-crazy country were great. A six-month break before a new wash came in handy for Sammelvuo, who is known for his frenetic work pace.
– I was really tired when I left Zenit. I think that episode really helped this season. I got to watch what other coaches did and analyze my own. [Aloittaessani] there was a lot of power, says Sammelvuo.
Energy was needed, because Kędzierzyn-Koźle has had a lot of games during the season. The season-ending Champions League final was the team’s 56th competitive match since the end of September. Sammelvuo’s team’s successful journey to winning the Polish Cup, silver in the Polish League and the Champions League final has been a long one.
– The team won everything last season and has been together for a long time. It is not easy to get into such a situation as a coach. I have tried to adapt to it and also bring my own things, the Finnish pilot explains.
Kędzierzyn-Koźle sold his number one star during the season, the European Volleyball Player of the Year Kamil Semeniuk To Perugia, Italy. According to Sammelvuo, the missing piece was only found when Bartosz Bednorz arrived in the team in January from China. The team’s playing style strengthened and self-confidence grew.
In the finals of the Polish league, Kędzierzyn-Koźle missed out completely Eemi Terportin at the feet of the Jastrzębies I represent. However, Sammelvuo had a good week to find ways to turn the situation around before the Champions League final against the same team. It all started with hard work.
From everyday life to winnings
The fifth round of the Champions League final in Turin has progressed under the command of Kędzierzyn-Koźle. The team freezes for a moment as the deciding balls approach, and loses its 9–6 lead. The situation in the final set reminds Sammelvuo in a heating way of the Olympic final in Tokyo.
In the final match of the most prestigious club team competition in Europe, however, Tuomas Sammelvuo’s team still finds a new gear. David Smith hit from an almost empty net to make the fifth set 15–12 and the Kędzierzyn-Koźle party begins.
Tuomas Sammelvuo, who won the volleyball Champions League as the first Finnish coach, is moved to tears as he hugs his coaching team and runs to embrace his players around the court.
– In elite sports, you play for the result. Winning is great, of course. That’s why we do this. This also means a lot personally. The best experiences are when everyone feels at the moment of winning that they are part of something bigger than themselves, Sammelvuo sets the mood.
Sammelvuo’s achievements as a Finnish ball coach are in a class of their own. Success is sure to come in the coming years as well, but Sammelvuo says that he shuns the idea of listing the trophies and victories he dreams of.
– It would be easy to say that you want to win something again. But that’s just everyday life. Living it is great. The more you train, the more I believe that those results will come from it. Although the daily program looks the same, the days are completely different.
– Of course I want to coach at the top, that’s a clear goal. Championships are a punishment for good work and many things have to fall into place.
Exactly ten years ago, Sammelvuo started coaching the Finnish men’s national team. Since then, the Finnish coach has worked sparingly. Many things have fallen into place, but the decade can also contain bitter disappointments. Last spring, it seemed that even as a head coach, you can’t influence everything yourself.
A new continent is calling
One of Sammelvuo’s goals has been to return to national team coaching. That goal was also fulfilled, because less than a week has passed since the Champions League victory, and the Finn has already traveled to Canada. Developing as a coach in a new culture motivates.
– It’s nice to go there. North America is completely new to me and Canada is undergoing a generational change. The team is really organized, and there is a culture of hard work, Sammelvuo explains.
A top coach played a big role in Sammelvuo’s transfer Glenn Hoagwhich Finns have known for years.
– Let’s see what can be achieved. Canadian players have a great spirit to fight for their place at the Olympics next year.
A career moves towards the next victories, driven by a high-quality and demanding everyday life. In the Russian league, the crown of Sammelvuo’s coaching career was the years-long project in Kemerovo that led to the championship. In Siberia, Sammelvuo tirelessly studied the game, developed himself, read literature and was constantly in contact with his colleagues around the world.
Sammelvuo admits that after those years in Russia, something has also changed in the man.
– Something has changed. The same passion is still present. Maybe I’ve learned to listen to myself enough that life isn’t just volleyball 24/7.
The men’s Golden League volleyball match between Czech Republic and Finland will be shown live on TV2 and Areena on Wednesday. The broadcast starts at 19:50.