I hope Zabrze will see a modern hall with 2,500 seats, which caters not only to handball players – says Dariusz Czernik

Conversation with Dariusz Czernikdirector Górnik Zabrze, third team of the PGNiG Superleague.

How does the first medal feel hanging around your neck?

Dariusz Czernik: – Ask the players about it. They score goals, win matches, give fans great and positive emotions. Well, maybe other than the last game… We have to admit that four defeats at the end of last season made the game in Lubin fun, but not euphoric. However, this doesn’t change the fact that the team has achieved measurable and well-deserved success.

Coming back to the question, actually the club’s employees – from the president, through the director, the “maser” to the press spokesperson – stood on the podium and also received medals. Must. There are players and coaches who are in the spotlight, but you need to appreciate everyone who is often in the shadows, but thanks to their daily hard work, the club reaches higher levels and achieves success.

Defeat hurts

What happened to the team in those four matches?

Dariusz Czernik: – This is what happens in sports. We are not the first and we will not be the last. Barcelona have lost three of their last four games after winning the Spanish championship. Deconcentration, a bit of relaxation, a sense of accomplishment…

However, if someone had said before the season that Górnik would win a medal 5 rounds before it ended, and in addition having beaten Azoty Puławy on their field, we would have accepted it blindly. But, as I said, the last two defeats have been particularly painful, and that shouldn’t happen to a third power team in this country.

At the game against Chrobry Głogów, the hall was full, then we had a great meeting with the fans, who went to Lubin to celebrate the medals in big groups. Let this be a lesson in how much work lies ahead.

Also read in the HANDBALL category

Let’s go back to the start of the season for a moment. After the first half, Marcin Lijewski, who is currently the coach of the national team, lost his job. Unusual situation…

Dariusz Czernik: – Before the first half there was a failed adventure with the Europa League. At home, we beat Amicitia Zurich by 8 goals, in the second leg there was a draw in the 45th minute and … we were eliminated. To say it hurts is an understatement. Then there was the “planned” defeat in Płock, and I still had to return to the previous season, which ended in a disappointing 5th place, which would also be difficult if it were not for the “last minute” transfers of Ukraine, Dima Artemenko and Dima Ilchenko.

Some were exhausted, owner Bogdan Kmiecik decided the change would help the team. Marcin has done a lot for the club, but sometimes there are times when you have to say goodbye. We know he is a candidate for a staff job.

Paradoxically, this release allowed him to take charge of the national team in the spring without waiting for the end of the season.

The president hangs out with Marcin, we hook up with him. The medals are also because of him, because he prepares the team for competition.

Is it safe to say that parting with the coach was softer than with your Roosevelt neighbor?

Dariusz Czernik: – You thought about parting ways with Janek Urban… It hurt me three times. Once, we had known each other for 30 years. Two, I hired him at Górnik and signed the contract, the terms he fulfilled and the contract automatically renewed. Three, you can have different ideas for the club, but you have to have the courage to say them in front of the coach.

Following what happened 12 months ago, I am ashamed and disappointed that something like this is happening in Górnik. May be poor, but must be dignified. There, there… It’s good that the coach is persuaded to come back, because it takes class and character. He made a “cosmic” result, besides earning PLN 3 million for the club in 6th place. Probably a lot of people who wanted him to leave then patted him on the back today.

Hopefully so

You also brought Lukas Podolski. He – like coach Urban – was also involved with the club over the next two years…

Dariusz Czernik: – So I think it’s a good decision… I wish Górnik all the best, I support everyone to be a team on and off the field, because without it there will be one victory, but never bigger. Especially when expectations are high and reality is tough.

I keep my fingers crossed for them. From president Adam Matysek, who I have also known for over 20 years, through the coaches, to every employee of the club.

I had contact with “Poldi”, using my invitation he was with his family in some of our games, however, his mother was a great handball player … However, I don’t want to talk about Górnik from Roosevelt, because now I am focused on working at Górnik from Wolności.

OK, so let’s talk handball and back to the coaches again. Patrik Liljestrand achieved success and … left. It’s also not an everyday thing.

Dariusz Czernik: – That was the agreement from the beginning of the club owner, namely Bogdan Kmiecik, with Patrik, who initially did not want to take over the team to Marcin Lijewski. The gentlemen made promises for a year, set goals and they were achieved. No one can take away from Patrik that he worked at Górnik twice and each of these stays was crowned with a bronze medal. It has an enduring place in the club’s history.

Stable budget

You are standing on the podium, while there is another revolution in the team. There is a new coach and five new players.

Dariusz Czernik: – The name Tomasz Strząbała appeared in our office a year ago. We believe Górnik needs someone like that. Tomasz is charismatic, a volcano of positive energy, a giant of work, a great motivator. When the cast found out that he would be working with them, they became very excited because they had high hopes for this project. Even though they knew that hard work awaited them, the training regime, and coach Strząbała kept the team “short”.

Such opinions are rarely heard. Damian Przytuła had offers from abroad, but he extended his contract with us. One because he got better, and two because Tomasz Strząbała is coming. And the composition? Someone will say that better is the enemy of good, but sport hates routine, requires development, competition, sets higher but achievable goals.

Thanks to the owner, we have a stable budget, we can plan certain steps well in advance. We announced the transfer recently, but it was finalized in January and February. There are no random moves here, no taking the player from the “chaser”.

Miners is a great place for a lot of people. Not yet at the level of team sports from Kielce or Płock, but they want to develop, play for medals, earn big money and show themselves in Europe. This is what we can give them. Please note that we are bringing in young players hungry for success, which Zabrze can be both a development ground and a springboard for something more. I watched the team’s matches and I saw Kornecki, Skrzyniarz, Czuwara, Bisa, Sićka, Przytuła … I don’t know if they would have been representatives if it weren’t for the time spent at Zabrze.

Third place, however, is still a ceiling. Did you notice?

Dariusz Czernik: – Of course, even in the new season the play-offs are back, and sporting miracles can happen in them. On the other hand, to permanently become a third force in a league, where two world-class clubs play, is also something. Especially if 85% of the budget is provided by the private sector, which of course needs to be appreciated. You asked about the “ceiling”, then there is Europe. Maybe we will go straight to the Europa League group stage, which has never happened in the club’s history. This will be finalized in the next few days.

Also read:

Maybe you will play, but where, because definitely not on Zabrze …

Dariusz Czernik: – We are aware of how this small facility limits the development of the club. But that’s a topic for conversation. We cannot turn back time, we must act in the present reality. Together with the city, we wondered how to get out of this, although it was enough to look at the neighboring cities to realize that the sentences were not simple, especially since we needed 6 dates in the fall. Good luck…

And I hope that Zabrze will see a modern hall with 2,500 seats, which will not only serve us. Today Zabrze has Polish junior and junior champions, only handball is played in the city by nearly 500 children and youth, and there are also other disciplines, as well as balls, concerts, fairs, fairs … As I said, a topic for another conversation. Now we are focused on being able to include the names of cities and halls in the EHF document by early July, where we can represent Zabrze and Silesia in the fall. Not much time…

In the photo: Dariusz Czernik hopes that Zabrze will not stop at the bronze medal he won last season.

Photo. Pawel Andrachiewicz/Focus Press

Remember – we are for you in kiosks, supermarkets, gas stations, but you can also buy us in electronic form. search in www.ekiosk.pl And http://egazety.pl.