Giovanni Guidetti will direct VakifBank Istanbul for the fourth time in the FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship
Lausanne, Switzerland, May 5, 2017 – Recently crowned CEV Champions League winners VakifBank Istanbul of Turkey are ready for their run at the 2017 FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship in Kobe, Japan from May 9 to 14.
VakifBank have what it takes to stay at the top, with a talented attack crew led by Rio 2016 gold medallist Zhu Ting and backed by international standouts like Lonneke Sloetjes and Olympic medallists Milena Rasic and Kimberly Hill, and Turkish playmaker Naz Aydemir.
Coach Giovanni Guidetti admits, however, that there will be no easy matches for his team. VakifBank will face tough opposition and are grouped with Dinamo Moscow of Russia, Rexona-SESC Rio of Brazil and host club Hisamitsu Springs Kobe in Pool A.
“Of course we are going to Japan to win the competition,” Guidetti said. “My team is now in good condition, not only physically but also mentally. We had some minor injuries but we have enough time to recover and be ready for the first game.
“The Club World Championship will be a tough tournament, there is no easy group or game to play. We have so many hard opponents in our group. We will play against Dinamo Moscow in our first match. They are one of the best teams in the world. They have just won the Russian Superleague and they will play better than they did in Treviso.”
Guidetti will steer VakifBank for the fourth time in the Club World Championship since the team debuted in 2011 in Doha, Qatar, where they finished in second place behind Rabita Baku of Azerbaijan.
The Istanbul-based club returned with a vengeance at Zurich 2013 to end the tournament as winners, beating Unilever Volei of Brazil. After missing the next two editions, they made another comeback in Manila 2016 that ended with a bronze medal win over Volero Zurich.