Bartosz Kurek, the leader of Poland’s national team over the last few years, will not play at the World Championships, starting in 13 days in Poland. The receiver did not gain recognition in Stephane Antiga’s eyes and was not appointed to the 14-players squad for the tournament.

Kurek has been spending with Polish national team since May, so the Qualifying Tournament for the European Championships 2015, Then, he got two-weeks vocation, but he was announced to appear in the lineup on the fourth World League weekend. It really happened, however, the Cucine Lube Treia player was assigned in just short, episodic roles. To make matters worse, he started his struggling with hard back pain again, as a result, could not participate in World League games.

There has come out some rumors saying that Kurek does not have compatible opinions as the head-coach of the White-and-Read team and what is more, he suggested that fact in some interviews.    

After recovery, he returned to practicing, but did not present the same level as in the past and did not step in the court in the opening match of “Hubert Wagner Memorial” that is actually played in Poland.Sports reasons have been decisive,’ says Antiga, who replaced Bartosz Kurek with less experienced receivers – Rafal Buszek and Mateusz Mika.

The shooting off Bartosz Kurek was not the most striking trouble for Antiga, because the best Polish opposite, Mariusz Wlazly, strained his ankle in the game against Bulgaria and he was threatened by not participating in the World Championships. Fortunately this injury turned out not to be so serious as it could be.

  • Poland’s 14-players line-up for the FIVB World Championships Poland 2014:
  • Setters: Fabian Drzyzga (Resovia Rzeszow), Pawel Zagumny (ZAKSA Kedzierzyn-Kozle);
  • Outside-hitters: Michal Winiiarski (PGE Skra Belchatow), Michal Kubiak (Halkbank Ankara), Mateusz Mika (Lotos Trefl Gdansk), Rafal Buszek (Resovia Rzeszow);
  • Middle-Blockers: Piotr Nowakowski (Resovia Rzeszow), Karol Klos (PGE Skra Belchatów), Andrzej Wrona (PGE Skra Belchatow), Marcin Mozdzonek (ZAKSA Kedzierzyn-Kozle);
  • Opposites: Mariusz Wlazly (PGE Skra Belchatow), Dawid Konarski (Resovia Rzeszow);
  • Libero: Pawel Zatorski (ZAKSA Kedzierzyn-Koazle), Krzysztof Ignaczak (Resovia Rzeszow);