Poland: Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle parts Ways with head coach Tuomas Sammelvuo

Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle has announced a significant change in ongoing season, 2023/24, with Tuomas Sammelvuo stepping down from his role as the team’s head coach.
The decision, as stated by the ZAKSA S.A. Board, is a direct response to the team’s unsatisfactory performance, notably their standing outside the playoff zone in the league (8 wins, 9 losses, now at 9th place) and mixed results in the volleyball Champions League group stage (3 wins, 3 losses for titleholders).

Tuomas Sammelvuo assumed the role of head coach for ZAKSA in 2022, marking his return to the club after over ten years, albeit in a different role as, previously, he had played for Polish powerhouse during the 2009/10 season.
In his coaching career in 2022/2023, he successfully led the team to victory in both the CEV Champions League and the Polish Cup.
His coaching career also includes significant experience in Russia from 2016, with both club and national teams, achieving notable success, including a gold medal at the 2019 Volleyball Nations League and a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
He also took on the role of head coach for the Canadian national team from 2023.

Taking over the helm as the interim head coach of Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle is now Adam Swaczyna, supported by assistant coach Michał Chadała.
The first one hails from Kędzierzyn-Koźle and joined the ZAKSA coaching staff in 2019. His previous roles include stints at Effector Kielce and VfB Friedrichshafen, where he worked alongside Vital Heynen. He has also collaborated with coaches like Nikola Grbić and Gheorghe Cretu and has been an assistant to Nikola Grbić in the Polish national team since 2022.
The second one has a rich history with the team, having worked with youth groups, led them in the Young League, and been part of the championship staff since 2014.

The newly appointed coaching duo will make their debut in the upcoming PlusLiga match, in which Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle will face off against Indykpol AZS Olsztyn tomorrow on January 25th, in a direct clash to enter the playoffs zone.

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