Tomaso Totolo for most of his career worked as a second coach. Only in Poland and now in Odinstovo he had a chance to show his skills as the first. – I know that as an assistant I can be really good because of my experience – he said.
Let’s start from the question what is exactly happening in Iskra? Could you tell something more about the club situation? Have the payment delays had an influence on the low table position?
Tomaso Totolo: – After the match lost in Yaroslav the Club started the discussion with the coach to verify his position and in the meantime I’m working with the team as first coach. The problem with the money is real but we have had insurance directly from the Sport’s Minister of Moscow Region that they will cover the budget. The payment delays don’t help especially a team in difficult, but we must be professionals and do our best in any case!
And you, don’t you feel a little bit disappointed? Last season Iskra ended on 3rd place, now is 10th. For sure everybody had higher expectations.
– When I’m answering you the situation is different after the first 2 matches won with me as first coach. I’m not disappointed! The teams are like the sons… everyone is different. The team of this season is completely different of the previous, only the 2 middle blockers are the same in the first six! But the championship is not ended and you should make me this question at the end… (smile)
And Rafael Redwitz, why did he leave the team? Elvi Contreras’ contract was one of the reasons Redwitz left? How would you asses Contreras? Because Iskra did, what ZAKSA hadn’t managed and bought this player.
– It has been a technical decision because of the difficult the team had with the spikers and there was no possibility to find good spiker on the Russian market. You know that in Russia you can have only 2 foreign players. It has been a pity for Rafa because he’s a good man and a good player. About Elvi, we could signed with him because our situation is different than ZAKSA… Elvi couldn’t go there cause to the problem with Visa in Shengen area, problem that he hasn’t with Russia. In this case we have been lucky.
You came to Iskra as the 2nd coach and you probably end the season as the 1st. How do you feel with that? You take charges after Roberto Santilli so, despite the circumstances, we can say that your roles are a little reserved because in 2007 Roberto took over after you in Jastrzębski Węgiel.
– This is the life and „risk” of our job. I feel ready to cover this position and give my in-printing philosophy to the team. I supported Roberto all the time here in Iskra as every second coach must do. It has been the decision of the club and I must be 100% professional and do my job because I’m under contract with them. Yes… that’s right… in 2007 when I left Jastrzębski Węgiel the club asked me to suggest them 1 Italian coach and I suggested them Roberto. Last season he called me here. Now it’s happened what for sure it wasn’t the expectation.
After you became 1st coach, did the management of the club put you any targets?
– Yes, normal… but this is between me and club… (smile)
After Italy and Poland, Russian Superleague is another step in your career. What are the differences between Russian, Italian and Polish leagues? What marks out Russia in comparison to another championships?
– The level of Russian volleyball championship is really high. This is because there are lot of good Russians players and already because the best foreign players are looking to this championship. But remember that only 2 foreign players can be in one team. The biggest difference between Italian and Polish championship is the physical power of the players… no one middle blocker is under 2.05 cm… and the level of the system play is going better because now are working in Russia lot of specialists as coaches or assistants from abroad. And it’s not a case that they won the last Olympics.
– Watching the matches of the Polish championship in this season the level is went a little bit down with a big difference between the first part of the ranking and the second part. But for the atmosphere (fans, media and so on) Poland is a really nice place to work.
What have you learn here? Your friend, Roberto Santilli, said that he’d like to stay in Russia as long as possible. How about you? Season lasts, but have you thought about your future in this country – e.g. if you’ll get a proposal to stay in Odintsovo as 1st coach, would you accept it?
– I’m learning a lot in this country already because it’s really different instead of Italy or Poland. I’m happy to be here and I hope to stay as long as possible but you know… not every-time our destiny is in our hands.. If I will have the proposal I will accept it. I made this mistake one time in 2007 when I left Jastrzębie-Zdrój… and I don’t want to repeat that choice.
You’ve worked also with national teams of Italy and Holland. Can you say that that work with NT is more challenging than in club or maybe opposite? Could you say one of them is more satisfying for you?
– It’s completely different, especially when you work for your National team (already question of heart.. not only professional). The international volleyball left me a lot of experience. I have had big satisfactions in national team and in club.
You collaborate with many coaches: Cotarelli, Scarduzio, Bruno Bagnoli, Dal Zotto, Dall’Ollio, Piazza, Santilli, Montali and Benne. Which one of them has taught you the most? Who had the biggest influence on you?
– You forgot about my big friend Peter Blangè (super player, super person and coach) and i could stay near (not directly) to Andrea Anastasi that I consider as one of the best coaches. From everybody i learned something. I believe that Roberto Piazza has been the coach that influenced me more. I consider him as one of the best.
For most of your career you’ve worked as 2nd coach. It’s your choice, you better feel in that role or maybe it helps you to mature to become 1st coach for longer period?
– I’ve started late to be coach and I immediately understood that it needs knowledge and experience to be first coach, already because I’ve started directly from the university… (smile)
– The second reason has been that I started to be only professional coach from 2007, before I had a normal job and it was impossible to be first coach in the mean time.
– I know that as assistant I can be really good cause to my long long experience. Now i want demonstrate that I can do a good job as first. Last season in Poland has been really unlucky for all the injuries we had and the problems in the middle of the season with the club.
You’ve said many times you enjoy being in Poland. And you spent here two seasons. What have you learned here, are you considering come back here in future?
– Yes, I confirm what i said before. I like Poland, I like the atmosphere around volleyball… I like everything. The life will say us if I will come back… for sure I will be ready!
source:siatka.org