A basketball team is being made.
On the basis of the successes of our students in academic competitions, a basketball team of AZS Politechnika Śląska was created, which, under the supervision of coach Patryk Niczke from the Sports Centre, plans to make its debut and start in the second league games.
In previous years, the representatives of the Silesian University of Technology did a great job both at the Silesian Academic Championships and the Polish Academic Championships in basketball, from where they even brought bronze medals. This is a great success that showed their potential.
- This is how the initiative to create this team was born - comments Patryk Niczke, coach of the basketball section, as well as an academic teacher at the Sports Centre of the Silesian University of Technology. - Winning a medal at the Polish Academic Championships is not an easy thing. A few girls have already trained in clubs. Due to their potential, commitment, and great desire to play for our university, I decided to give it a try. Actually, this idea came first from the girls who talked me into it. I picked up on the topic and decided to put this initiative into practice. I even think that the second league will not be the peak of our possibilities. The beginning will probably not be the easiest, but I believe that with regular training there will be victories.
Now the club has a number of formal requirements to meet. If successful, the players will play in the next season of the 2nd league of the Silesian Basketball Association. This is the third level of the competition in Poland.
The newly formed team has even had its first sparring match, in which it lost a high score of 38:86 to RMKS Rybnik in the OSiR hall at 26 Akademicka Street. A few dynamic and combination actions of our team could, however, pleased the large audience.
- The team from Rybnik plays in the second league for women - explains Patryk Niczke. - In its line-up there were several representatives of Poland up to the age of seventeen, as well as players who play in the first league on a daily basis. It was not an easy opponent at the beginning, especially since I didn't have a full team. It was a good test though. We know what we have to work on. The girls definitely have a passion for training.
The team of AZS Politechnika Śląska in this match consisted of: Natalia Krzymińska (captain), Wiktoria Chabierska, Olga Lizurej, Marta Szydło, Julia Płoszaj, Katarzyna Swoboda, Natalia Rusińska, Julia Adamczyk, Julia Smolińska and Michalina Grzybek.
- We are open to new people, because we know that we still need to strengthen ourselves - says Patryk Niczke. We are currently training twice a week. With full preparations for the league season, we would like to start at the end of August. Then we will have training meetings three times a week. I think it will be a nice treat for basketball fans and not only. We will count on their support. We would like to associate this team with the academic community of our University.
The coach admits that the club is still looking for sponsors whose financial support would allow for faster development of the team and a sure access to the league games.
- At the moment, we are supported by APE Group from Katowice, an IT company whose owner appeared at the meeting with Rybnik - says Patryk Niczke. - I would also like to thank Professor Krzysztof Czapla, director of our Sports Centre for supporting this initiative and helping him.
- I keep my fingers crossed for the coach and the players that they will be able to play in the league games - says prof. Krzysztof Czapla, director of the SUT Sports Centre. - There is still a bumpy road ahead of this team, especially in organizational terms. However, they can count on my help.
Photo: Martin Huć
