Nelli Chsherbakova of Kazakhstan is following the steps of Lang Ping four years ago as the only female coach at the Women's World Championship |
Matsumoto, Japan, October 29, 2010 – All it takes for a rule to be considered valid, even though not always fair, is to have an exception. Name it Lang Ping four years ago and now you can call it Chsherbakova.
Nelli Chsherbakova of Kazakhstan is the only female coach among the 24 taking part in the final round of the 2010 FIVB Women's World Championship but she does not feel annoyed by the inequality or by those in favour of the male supremacy theory.
On the contrary, the small Chsherbakova sees the imbalance in the numbers only as a coincidence and considers herself as capable as her male counterparts handling the other 23 squads.
"I feel comfortable in my position as the only woman coaching in the championship because I only see it as a profession," Chsherbakova said reacting to a question during the Pool C coaches' press conference on Thursday night in Matsumoto. "Nobody asks the men why they are coaching women's teams because it is their profession also.
"Coaching is a profession and it does not have any influence if you are a woman or a man, so I feel fine as the coach of Kazakhstan”, she added.
She recalled the days of the former Soviet Union when she was coaching the ADK Team against Uralocha of Ekaterimburg and legendary coach Nikolay Karpol. And she also remembered coaching boys' junior and youth teams during that era. "I have been coaching for many years without paying attention to the difference of gender," Chsherbakova added. "Then it was a friendly rivalry."
This is the second stint for the former setter at the helm of the Kazakhstan women's team. "I coached the team for about ten years and then I left," she said. "Now two years ago I was invited to come back."
In 2006, 'Jenny' Lang Ping as coach of USA was the only female at the helm of one of the 24 sides competing for global women's Volleyball supremacy. Now it is time for Chsherbakova to follow her steps.
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