BTS Willowa Bolesławiec faces a historic challenge. President Kamil Razik on the club and its immediate goals

Istotne.pl: The penultimate stage is complete. One final step remains to promotion – one of the greatest achievements in Bolesławiec volleyball in recent years.

Kamil Razik – President of Bolesławieckie Towarzystwo Siatkarskie Willowa Bolesławiec: Yes, that's right. We have just won a historic gold medal in the league. In the past, we managed to qualify for playoff and semifinal tournaments, but always from second place, which made seeding more difficult. This year we won the league and claimed gold for the first time. Last weekend we played the semifinal tournament in Namysłów. Teams from Silesia, Opole and Lubusz competed there. We won the first match, on Friday against Zielona Góra, 3–1. Unfortunately, we lost the second one to Czechowice-Dziedzice 2–3. I am very dissatisfied with that match because I believe we should have won it, and decisively. Perhaps we lacked full concentration. The positive was that we won two sets. Before the final day, we knew that the teams winning on Sunday would advance to the final. We beat Namysłów 3–0 – fully focused this time. Zielona Góra lost to Czechowice-Dziedzice, and in the end it is we and Czechowice who will play in the final tournament, held on April 24–26 in…

Słubice.

In Słubice, that's right.

What is already known about this tournament? Who will play there?

We already know the lineup, dates and match times.

How many matches will there be?

Three.

So, spread over three days?

Yes. On Friday we play Czechowice-Dziedzice, so there will be a chance for revenge. On Saturday we will play Norwid Częstochowa's junior team – the Polish under-19 champions. A very good, unpredictable team, but I think they are within our reach and we will certainly fight. On Sunday we play the host, the Słubice team, which won its semifinal group. Of the four teams, the two best will be promoted directly to the second league.

So second place is enough for promotion?

Exactly.

And what next? What are away trips like in the second league?

The second league includes teams from the Lubusz, Opole and Silesian voivodeships. We also have quite a few teams from Lower Silesia, such as Gwardia Wrocław, Ikar Legnica, Sobieski Żagań and Bielawianka Bielawa. If we are promoted, further trips await us, for example to Częstochowa, but overall the mileage will not be much greater than now – it is comparable.

Could the situation from years ago happen again, when there was promotion but the team did not start in the league?

That risk always exists. For the past year I have been doing everything to minimize it. I have been president for several months, and the effects are already visible – we have more sponsors, we are developing and training young players. The children who train volleyball with us are achieving good results – in the Lower Silesian finals of the “Kinder” tournament, we have as many as three teams among the eight best “pairs” in the voivodeship. It is worth emphasizing that more than 100 children already train at Bolesławska Akademia Siatkówki, while around 50 are in the BTS club. Both groups take part in volleyball tournaments. We are developing youth volleyball, and from September we also want to revive women's volleyball in Bolesławiec. We are developing youth volleyball, and from September we also want to revive women's volleyball in Bolesławiec. We have already taken the first steps and played some practice matches – it looks very promising. However, without support from the city and sponsors, it may happen that we do not enter the league. And the players who earn promotion will not want to take a step backwards. I would like to earn promotion now – I believe it is realistic. If we fail, we will make another attempt next year. I have given myself two years to achieve this goal, but of course it would be best to do it now. At the moment I am able to secure roughly half of the required budget. We will hold specific discussions after the season ends.

And what budget is needed for the second league?

I think around 300,000 zlotys per season to operate normally – refereeing fees, halls, more training sessions and travel for players from outside the city. At the moment I cannot guarantee that amount, but we will do everything to raise it.

Will reinforcements also be needed?

We are already holding the first talks. If we are promoted and decide to play, we do not want merely to fight to avoid relegation, but rather for a mid-table position. The first season will of course primarily be about staying up, but I believe we can build a squad that will allow us to operate comfortably at this level.

Will matches continue to be played at the sports hall on Jana Pawła II Street?

Yes, it is the only hall in the city suitable for this level. Alternatively, the I LO hall could be considered, as it has more space for fans, but we train at Jana Pawła every day and are used to it. Our matches attract a lot of interest and we want to continue drawing fans. I can also promise that admission will always be free.

BTS matches have a very friendly, family atmosphere – lots of children and positive energy. We encourage everyone who has not yet attended to come to a BTS match and see it all live for themselves. It is worth it. Thank you for the interview.

Thank you very much.

In the photo above, BTS Willowa Bolesławiec President Kamil Razik is shown with a commemorative gold medal and trophies for finishing first in the I Lower Silesian Men's League and for finishing first in the playoff semifinal tournament for promotion to the second volleyball league.

On behalf of Bolesławiec volleyball fans, we wish the president and the club a successful tournament in Słubice and promotion to the much-desired second league.