I fell in love with the Italian master’s first intuition for K-volleyball, full crowd + enthusiasm for cheering
Italian coach Marcello Abondanza (53), who took the helm of Heungkuk Life Insurance for women’s professional volleyball, seemed thrilled at the first scene of the V-League ‘intuition’.
Heungkuk Life Insurance won a set score 3-1 in an away game against GS Caltex in the 5th round of the Dodram 2022-2023 V-League Women’s Division held at Jangchung Gymnasium in Seoul on the 19th. With two consecutive victories, they widened the gap with second place Hyundai E&C by four points and occupied an advantage in first place.
Heungkuk Life Insurance officially announced the appointment of manager Abondanza this morning. Former manager Kwon Soon-chan, who had led the team to the top until early last month, was sacked for an unreasonable reason called ‘difference in direction’, and the vacancy of the field command tower that had been going on for over a month was put to an end.
After starting his coaching career in the Italian league in 1996, Abondanza coached the Italian national team and coached the Bulgarian, Canadian and Greek national teams. 메이저놀이터
In Turkiye Fenerbahce, she lifted the league championship twice with ‘Volleyball Empress’ Kim Yeon-kyung (35), and has experience in commanding world-class clubs such as Italy’s Zanetti Bergamo.
Kim Yeon-kyung did not hide her expectations, saying, “He is a world-famous coach. Recruiting during the season is difficult, but I am grateful for the good work at the front of Heungkuk Life Insurance.”
Head coach Abon Danza has completed a contract with Heungkuk Life Insurance until the 2024-2025 season, but his official debut is undecided so far as procedures such as issuance of his work visa have not been completed.
Even though I couldn’t physically be with the players, my first impression of Abondanza in the V-League seemed to be very positive. On this day, Jangchung Gymnasium was visited by 3,312 spectators and recorded the 15th sell-out of the women’s division this season. Heungkuk Life Insurance’s 14th sold out, Kim Yeon-kyung’s ticket power and Heungkuk Life’s propaganda are leading the V-League box office.
Fans cheered for each and every movement of the players, and especially at the moment when Kim Yeon-kyung came out as a solver in the game, cheers erupted as if the stadium was about to float away.
Kim Yeon-kyung explained, “The coach was surprised by the Korean volleyball fever and said it was really great.”
He also expressed his wish, saying, “The manager wants the work visa to come out as quickly as possible and wants to be with the players on the court.
Coach Abondanza will hold an official press conference prior to the home game against Korea Expressway Corporation on the 23rd and reveal his determination as Heungkuk Life’s command tower, guiding philosophy, and season management plan.
Heungkuk Life Insurance’s acting manager Kim Dae-gyeong added, “The future team operation schedule is still under discussion. I haven’t had a deep conversation with coach Abondanza yet, and he just said that today’s game was good.”