The women’s team of Szilárd Kiss jr. has got some serious challenge to master, playing in the second national division this season.

According to the head coach not only the squad has changed, but the roles within the team have been modified, while in the meantime their rivals this year will be stronger than last season.

 

 

„Just as in previous years, also now the most important thing is for the girls to develop further. We only play in one championship, and the impact of this we will only feel later, but one thing is certain: it will harder to make it into the team. Many kids have to get used to the level of the adults’ game, and on top of that, defining players – such as Petra Vámos – have left, so we have to find people who can replace them.

According to him, the championship is this year much more evenly balanced, than in previous years.

“We will be having a very hard job, since the level in the second division has significantly risen, even the relegated team from the first division, Budaörs plays in our group. All in all, there are three outstanding clubs, who will have strong competition among each other as well, and we would like to earn points against them. I am curious if we can surprise such strong rivals. For these opponents you need to prepare very seriously, but it is good that we can play tough matches and find out what we are capable of.”

The younger players will also have bigger tasks to solve this year.

„This level nears that of the first division very much, so for our youth players this season’s championship will be a big challenge. Athletes born in 2002 will come to the forefront and they will have to live up to the intensity. They will have new roles, which they need to adapt to, because it is completely different when one has to jump in for 15 minutes or the player has to solve the situations for 45 minutes against stronger and more experienced opponents. I think this will be a decent task for everybody.”

The team that won the youth European Championships this summer had ten NEKA players, who have been playing together for years, and work also together with Szilárd Kiss jr. But this wonderful success has also some disadvantages.

„In fact, the European Championships has had a double impact on the players. Basically, the summer is gone without any rest, and I can feel it on myself as well as on the kids. On the long run you cannot do this without any punishment. Once school started, the kids who were full of workload in the summer, have gotten more exhausted. If it only had to do with a couple of players, we could say calming ourselves that the backbone of the team is still fresh and ready, but since in this case ten girls are involved, we do feel that most of them would just need a break. But there is no possibility to do this now, that is why try to make the trainings lighter, and I hope that for next weekend the girls will be in perfect shape” – offered Szilárd Kiss jr. his views on the situation at hand for our homepage.