Press release

Doha, Qatar, October 13 – Italian Giovanni Guidetti has adapted to a split schedule that includes serving as head coach for the Turkish club VakifBank TTelekom Istanbul and the German women’s national team.

Currently, he is guiding VakifBank TTelekom at the 2011 FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship. His squad won both their pool matches in straight sets, then topped Brazil’s Sollys Nestle Osasco 25-19, 25-21, 25-19 in the semifinal round to reach the gold-medal match.

“I'm very happy with my team's performance of not only today, but the whole competition,” Guidetti said of VakifBank TTelekom Istanbul advancing to the semifinals of the FIVB Women’s Club World Championship. “Especially because we were only able to train once before the start of this championship.”

For additional information on the FIVB Volleyball Men's Club World Championship, click here. For more information on the FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship, click here. For Daily Bulletins for the tournament, click here.

The life of a coach involved in both club and national team becomes a year-long passion.

“This is my life – I have been doing this for many years,” Guidetti said. “I like it a lot as I get to coach many good players. Of course sometimes I am tired, but there is no time to be tired.”

Guidetti reminds his players of just that, there is no time to be tired. They too are heavily involved in their own national team programs and club teams nearly 365 days a year due to the competition schedule.

Just two weeks ago Guidetti was coaching on the sidelines for the German national team at the European Championship in Serbia, leading a squad that also included VakifBank TTelekom’s Christiane Fuerst. Germany reached the title match and faced host Serbia – his home country – and his VakifBank TTelekom player Jelena Nikolic. Serbia won the title, but Germany qualified for the FIVB World Cup by finishing as vice-champion.

In about three weeks, his coaching attire will change again to represent Germany’s women’s national team at the FIVB World Cup held Nov. 4-18 in Japan. The World Cup is the first qualifying event for the 2012 Olympic Games. The top three teams at the World Cup will earn bids to London.

“After the European Championship, I was home in Istanbul one day with my club team before traveling to Doha for the FIVB Club World Championship,” Guidetti said. “After this tournament, I will spend 10 days before going to Japan.”

The difference between coaching club and a national team are in preparation and improving, according to Guidetti.

“Coaching at the national team level has lots of time to train and build a team,” Guidetti said. “Plus, we have the players for many years and see them as young as 17. That can also make training in the gym difficult by having the same players. In coaching club, teams learn and improve through competitions and not in the training gym. Teams play several matches a week with less training.”

But for at least one more day, Guidetti will be concentrating in leading VakifBank TTelekom to a possible gold medal for the FIVB Women’s Club World Championship in Doha. After that, the transition to a national team coach will apply as Germany makes their final preparation for the FIVB World Cup.