Captain Shaun and his team 22.06.2010
The Cambridge University team arrived in Kazan without a formal coach. And according to the English players it doesn’t mean that they don’t plan to win the Championship.
The kazan2013.com newsman has interviewed Jan Natolski and Shaun Hall.
What pregame attitude did arrive with to the Championship? What is your impression of Kazan?
Jan Natolski: We want to finish among the tournament winners. This is a normal attitude for any sportsman. We hope that a few hour flight was not in vain. Kazan impressed us with a large number of sports venues on the way from the airport to the downtown. For instance, the stadium where Rubin played in the Champions League.
It’s not surely the first year you play table tennis. What results did you achieve back home in Great Britain?
Jan Natolski: We are second in the BUCS Premier South league. We compete not only in student tournaments.
Will we see you at the London Olympics in two years?
Shaun Hall: Unlikely. Let’s leave professional sports to professional sportsmen. We pay attention to our studies: all of us major in Technology. Table tennis is fascinating but the years we’ve spent in Cambridge should not go in vain. Besides our level is far from the Olympics level.
What would you say about visiting Kazan for the 2013 Summer Universiade?
Shaun Hall: That’s quite likely. Unfortunately only two of us will be able to participate as the rest of the team will have graduated from the University by 2013.
Football and rugby championships gather stadiums in England. What about table tennis tournaments?
Shaun Hall: Interest in football is huge in England! There is no comparison with table tennis, even the League Two gathers about 20 000 supporters. Interest in table tennis is not so huge yet but it’s increasing. Firstly table tennis is included in the sports program of the London Olympics. Secondly the universities pay attention to table tennis: some buy tables and training equipment, some just start forming student teams.
Your team is one of few that arrived without a coach. What’s the reason for it?
Jan Natolski: Don’t think that we arrived without a coach for reasons of economy. Our captain is Shaun. He combines functions of three very important persons: he’s our captain, he’s our playing coach and he’s our physical therapist though it may sound odd. We don’t have a coach as such. After studies and lectures we meet in the gym, play with each other and exercise. We usually train three times a week, sometimes more.
You will not only struggle for medals but will rest after tense matches. Do you have any plans for post-game time?
Shaun Hall: We haven’t thought about that by the way. First of all we’ll rest. We need to save pains for the next duel meets. If we win the Championship the post-game rest will be a double pleasure. We’ll be exploring the Kazan nightlife with medals around neck.
