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Tough Groups In The Indesit European Champions League
Drawing Of Lots In Vienna
Exactly two months before the start of the Indesit European Champions'' League, the drawing of lots of this important event for the best European club teams took place in Vienna, Austria on Sunday. In the men''s event, the best twenty club teams of the world''s leading volleyball continent know their opponent now. In the women''s tournament, the best 15 teams of Europe participate.
The famous ''Rathaus'' of the Austrian capital of Vienna was the place where the drawing of lots of the Indesit European Champions'' League 2003/2004 took place. It was not only a drawing ceremony for the best club competition in the world. The drawing of lots was held on the occasion of a special Volleyball Gala of the European Volleyball Confederation (CEV).
For the Men''s Indesit European Champions'' League, the twenty participants were drawn into five pools of four teams each. Lokomotiv BELGOROD from Russia, the winner of the 2002/2003 Indesit European Champions'' League, will play in Pool C together with Lube MACERATA (ITA), Iraklis THESSALONIKI (GRE) and Dukla LIBEREC (CZE).
Pool A is a very strong group. Top seed Sisley TREVISO from Italy will face SCC BERLIN (GER), Olympiakos PIRAEUS (GRE) and Pamapol AZS CZESTOCHOWA (POL). „It will be very tough for us,” Sisley TREVISO''s manager Bruno da Re analyzed. „All our opponents are very strong.”
In Pool B, 2000/2001 Champion PARIS Volley from France will meet Unicaja ALMERIA (ESP), Crvena Zvezda BEOGRAD (SCG) and Knack ROESELARE (BEL). Pool D will be a completely open group, with the strong Russian team Iskra ODINTSOVO, TOURS VB (FRA), outsider VfB FRIEDRICHSHAFEN (GER) and newcomer ESS Falck PARNU (EST). „I am sure the Russian opponent with be hard to beat,” VfB FRIEDRICHSHAFEN manager Bernd Hummernbrum stated.
Pool E will be an open one too, with all four participants able to make it to the next round. Mostostal-Azoty KEDZIERZYN from Poland is the top seed. Noliko MAASEIK (BEL), Levski Siconco SOFIA (BUL) and Aon hotVolleys VIENNA (AUT) complete this group. „All these teams made great results in the previous Indesit European Champions'' Leagues,” Noliko MAASEIK manager Rene Corstjens said. „The drawing could have been worse for us, but at the end I am satisfied.”
For the Women''s Indesit European Champions'' League, the 15 teams were drawn into five pools of three teams each. Because of this new regulation, the playing had to be modified for this season. In January 2004, there are three rounds scheduled. In each round, one team will play at home against both opponents.
Defending champion RC CANNES from France was drawn into Pool E together with Stal BIELSKO-BIALA (POL) and Jedinstvo UZICE (SCG). Pool A is one of the major groups with the top Italian team Asystel Volley NOVARA, Crvena Zvezda BEOGRAD (SCG) and Indesit European Champions'' League rookie Zeiler KONIZ (SUI). „I think we can be satisfied with this group,” Zeiler KONIZ manager Urs Burgy stated. „We are a new team at this high level and have the opportunity to play with one of the best teams in the world.”
In Pool B, Hotel Cantur LAS PALMAS (ESP), Nova KBM Branik MARIBOR (SLO) and Azerrail BAKU (AZE) were drawn. There will be a lot of firework in Pool C, with Russian Champion Uralochka EKATERINBURG, TENERIFE Marichal (ESP) and NRK NYIREGYHAZA (HUN). „Our travel agent will be happy,” Zoltan Kynsburg of NRK NYIREGYHAZA stated. „For my team, the drawing is pretty good,” Nadia Karpol from Uralochka EKATERINBURG added.
The three teams in Pool D are almost equal. Pallavolo Sirio PERUGIA from Italy is the slight favorite, but Eczacibasi ISTANBUL (TUR) and Mladost ZAGREB (CRO) are famous European teams. „It is OK for us,” Jasna Gaspar of Mladost ZAGREB said. „In my opinion Pool B is the strongest one.”
The Indesit European Champions'' League will start in December when the first two legs of the league round for the men''s competition are scheduled. The league round of both the men''s and women''s Indesit European Champions'' League will come to a conclusion at the end of January 2004. The best six teams in each gender will play play-off matches. The winners of these clashes will get qualified for the Final Four.
The Final Four of the Women''s Indesit European Champions'' League will take in Tenerife, Spain on 20 and 21 March 2004. The final event of the Men''s Indesit European Champions'' League will be held in Belgorod, Russia on 27 and 28 March 2004. The hosts of the Final Fours are automatically qualified for these events.
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Results drawing of lots:
Men''s Indesit European Champions'' League 2003-2004
Pool A:
Sisley TREVISO (ITA)
SCC BERLIN (GER)
Olympiakos PIRAEUS (GRE)
Pamapol AZS CZESTOCHOWA (POL).
Pool B:
PARIS Volley (FRA)
Unicaja ALMERIA (ESP)
Crvena Zvezda BEOGRAD (SCG)
Knack ROESELARE (BEL).
Pool C:
Lokomotiv BELGOROD (RUS)
Lube MACERATA (ITA)
Iraklis THESSALONIKI (GRE)
Dukla LIBEREC (CZE).
Pool D:
Iskra ODINTSOVO (RUS)
TOURS VB (FRA)
VfB FRIEDRICHSHAFEN (GER)
ESS Falck PARNU (EST).
Pool E:
Mostostal-Azoty KEDZIERZYN (POL)
Noliko MAASEIK (BEL)
Levski Siconco SOFIA (BUL)
Aon hotVolleys VIENNA (AUT)
Women''s Indesit European Champions'' League 2003-2004
Pool A:
Asystel Volley NOVARA (ITA)
Crvena Zvezda BEOGRAD (SCG)
Zeiler KONIZ (SUI).
Pool B:
Hotel Cantur LAS PALMAS (ESP)
Nova KBM Branik MARIBOR (SLO)
Azerrail BAKU (AZE).
Pool C:
Uralochka EKATERINBURG (RUS)
TENERIFE Marichal (ESP)
NRK NYIREGYHAZA (HUN).
Pool D:
Pallavolo Sirio PERUGIA (ITA)
Eczacibasi ISTANBUL (TUR)
Mladost ZAGREB (CRO)
Pool E:
RC CANNES (FRA)
Stal BIELSKO-BIALA (POL)
Jedinstvo UZICE (SCG).
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