Making your passion a job: Frauke, Liubov and Oksana
It is not always easy to leave what you love most. And this also happens in volleyball, especially when this sport has been your life for many many years.
Among those who hang up their kneepads there are those who decide to build an extra-volleyball life and those who cannot live without that 18x9 meter court taking on the roles of Team Manager, coaches, athletic trainers, commentators and much more.
Pool A in Belgrade is a beautiful example of what has just been said. Out of six participating teams, three have a former player from their national team as Team Manager. We are talking about Russia with Liubov Shashkova, Belgium with Frauke Dirickx and Azerbaijan with Oksana Kurt.
Frauke Dirickx was a left-handed setter and captain of Belgium. On her showcase stands a European bronze won in 2013 against Serbia. She has travelled around Europe throughout her career playing in clubs of Belgium, Italy, Spain, Romania, Turkey, and Poland.
Frauke Dirickx"I think is good for the players to have somebody that can relate to them and knows what they are feeling in the good and the bad times. You can also help to put things in perspective and help them understand why certain things must be done or rather shouldn’t be done. It’s good to be able to use the experience that I have from playing so many years in the national team and playing so many tournaments. I think every team could benefit from someone with this kind of amount of experience."
Team Manager Belgium
Liubov Shashkova, born in 1977, was an outside hitter for many European clubs including Bergamo, Murcia, Fenerbahce, Odintsovo and Eczacibasi. With Russia she won everything she could win including two Olympic silver medals (Sidney 2000 and Athens 2004) and two European gold medals in 1999 and 2001 and a bronze at the European championships in 2007 as captain. After 24 years of career, in 2016, she decided to retire. Considered one of the strongest players in the world, Liubov Shashkova was certainly one of the strengths of the Russian national team and the numerous personal awards received, including the award as Best Receiver at the European Championships in 2007, confirm this.
Liubov Shashkova"Being the Team Manager of Russia is indeed a very interesting job. I went from being a player to being Team Manager of Russia. I really like it because I have experienced volleyball as a player and this helps me a lot in organizing everything that girls need. I love being in contact with the players, living with them, sharing their emotions and seeing how they grow match after match."
Team Manager Russia
Liubov Shashkova"Now I live volleyball from outside the field. When you are a player you only think about playing, doing well for the team and doing your best. Obviously and rightly you don't think about the organization of everything that revolves around you. The biggest difference that I am noticing is that, being off the court, I am much more nervous, I think more, I am more "stressed".
Team Manager Russia
Another iconic captain and player for her country is Oksana Kurt. She has been team’s captain since 2006. She has played for teams from Azerbaijan, Turkey, Switzerland and Russia and has won trophies from national competitions also claiming the CEV Top Teams Cup with Azerrail Baku back in 2002.
Oksana Kurt"It feels amazing to still be a part of the team. First of all because I feel like I never left the game. Of course, to be a manager it’s completely different work, but I’m still in volleyball and I really like it. It’s more difficult to watch the games from the tribune than play. Because when you play all the energy and emotions you can leave on the court. But living the game from the outside you can see much more possibilities for team to win the point. And it’s not easy to stay calm."
Team Manager Azerbaijan
Oksana Kurt"I think for the team is good to have as Team Manager ex player or someone who was a part of the team before. Because like this you can easily understand what team and players need even without speaking to them. Also sometimes players and Team Manager can speak about some volleyball skills. Even sometimes we can play together before training a little bit."
Team Manager Azerbaijan
An historical note. Frauke Dirickx and Liubov Shashkova played together in the 2005 CAV MURCIA club and in 2007 they won the Top Teams Cup Women.
