ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle

Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle, previously known as ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle, is a Polish professional men's volleyball team based in Kędzierzyn-Koźle, founded in 1994.[1][2] Eight–time Polish Champion and seven–time Polish Cup winner.[3]

Grupa Azoty
ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle
Full nameZAKSA Spółka Akcyjna
Founded1994 (1994)
GroundHala Azoty
ul. Mostowa 1
47–223 Kędzierzyn-Koźle
(Capacity: 3,375)
Chairman Sebastian Świderski
Manager Nikola Grbić
Captain Benjamin Toniutti
LeaguePlusLiga
CEV Champions League
WebsiteClub home page
Uniforms
Home
Away

Achievements

Domestic

International

European record
Season Competition Round Club 1st leg 2nd leg Aggregate
2020–21 CEV Champions League
League Round
(Pool A)		 PGE Skra Bełchatów 3–0 3–2 1st place
Fenerbahçe HDI İstanbul 3–0 3–0
Lindemans Aalst 3–0 3–1
Quarterfinals

Team history

KS Mostostal Zabrze

KS Mostostal Zabrze was founded on 8 March 1994 in Kędzierzyn-Koźle. The team of that time was composed of former players of Chemik Kędzierzyn, the club that ceased to exist in 1993. In 1995, the team led by Leszek Milewski won promotion to the top Polish volleyball league, and by doing that, the club made the first step on track to eventually win the championship title. In the same year, the club changed its name to KS Mostostal ZA Kędzierzyn, as a result of Zakłady Azotowe Kędzierzyn, the company operating in the chemical industry, becoming a shareholder of the club.

In 1997, the club from Kędzierzyn-Koźle, after spending only 2 years in the top league, was close to achieve its first championship, losing in the final to AZS Częstochowa. Both clubs were competing for the highest domestic trophies almost every season, what resulted in a long–standing rivalry in the years to come.[4]

In 1998, Mostostal ZA Kędzierzyn led by Jan Such for the first time in club's history won its first championship, beating Morze Bałtyk Szczecin in the deciding match held in Kędzierzyn-Koźle.[5]

Mostostal Azoty

In 1998, the club changed its name to Mostostal Azoty Kędzierzyn-Koźle. In the upcoming season, even though Mostostal reached the league finals, the club did not manage to defend the championship and had to credit the superiority of AZS Częstochowa. In the same season, the team also made a debut in the CEV Champions League, in which Mostostal finished last in its group and did not advance to the semifinals. After that season, Jan Such left the team from Kędzierzyn-Koźle and has been replaced by Waldemar Wspaniały, who led the team in next 5 years, until 2004.

With Waldemar Wspaniały on the bench, Mostostal became a dominant power in the league, winning 4 Polish Championships in a row (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003) and three Polish Cups (2000, 2001, 2002), the period often referred to as a golden era of Mostostal. On the international stage, the club made its way to the Champions League Final Four tournament in 2002, and managed to win a bronze medal at the 2003 edition held in Milan, Italy, defeating Paris Volley in 3 sets.

After winning the Polish title in 2003, Mostostal did not manage to keep 2 national team members; Sebastian Świderski decided to leave the club and continue his career in Italy, while Paweł Papke joined the rival club from Olsztyn. The 2003–04 season, Mostostal ended in 6th place. Waldemar Wspaniały left the club after that season and has been replaced by a Slovak coach Rastislav Chudík.[6]

The team of Rastislav Chudík started well in the league, beating the Polish champions Jastrzębski Węgiel, however Mostosal was not doing well in the rest of the season and eventually finished 5th in the championship. The club management decided not to sign a new contract with coach Chudík, and as a result Wojciech Drzyzga has become the new head coach of the team.

Although Mostostal fans dreamed of regaining the place at the top of the league, the 2005–06 season was the worst in club's history. Wojciech Drzyzga has been dismissed, after a series of 10 defeats in a row, and so far acting as his assistant coach, Andrzej Kubacki has become the new head coach. The club from Kędzierzyn-Koźle was not able to save that season and finished 8th in the championship.

After the infamous 2005–06 season, the club management did not specify any particular goal for the upcoming season; the team was supposed to present good volleyball. Mostostal managed to take part in the Playoff stage of the championship, and was close to defeat Jastrzębski Węgiel and move on in the competition, but had to credit the superiority of the team from Jastrzębie-Zdrój after as many as 5 matches (2–3). Eventually, Mostostal ended the season in 6th place, after 3 matches for 5th place against Asseco Resovia (1–2).

ZAKSA

The new 2007–08 season brought many changes to volleyball in Kędzierzyn-Koźle with Zakłady Azotowe Kędzierzyn, becoming the main shareholder of the club and at the same time, saving the club from going bankrupt. Therefore, the team has started the season under the new name of ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle. The club strengthened its ranks with Jakub Novotný who has become one of the most significant players, and the Polish national team member Łukasz Żygadło. At the end of the regular season, an unexpected defeat in Bydgoszcz complicated the situation of ZAKSA, which now in the Playoff stage of the competition, just like in the previous season had to face Jastrzębski Węgiel. The team from Kędzierzyn-Koźle has lost both to Jastrzębski Węgiel, and in 3 matches for 5th place to Asseco Resovia (1–2).

In 2008, the club management headed by Sławomir Pietrzyk decided to entrust the team to Krzysztof Stelmach, and so far acting as the head coach, Andrzej Kubacki has become Stelmach's assistant. Before the 2008–09 PlusLiga season, ZAKSA has been heavily rebuilt with such names as Michal Masný or Michał Ruciak joining the club. After a successful regular season, in which ZAKSA finished second, the team led by Stelmach lost in the semifinals to Asseco Resovia, and was left with a match for 3rd place against Jastrzębski Węgiel. Unfortunately, ZAKSA had to credit the superiority of Jastrzębski Węgiel and eventually finished the season in 4th place. As a result, the club was granted the right to compete in the upcoming CEV Cup edition.[7]

Team

As of 2020/21 season

Coaching staff
Occupation Name
Head coach Nikola Grbić
Assistant coach Adam Swaczyna Michał Chadała
Strength and conditioning coach Piotr Pietrzak
Physiotherapist Bartosz Hołobut Paweł Brandt
Statistician Marcin Nowakowski
Team manager Bartłomiej Soroka

Players
No. Name Date of birth Position
1 Paweł Zatorski (1990-06-21) 21 June 1990libero
2 Łukasz Kaczmarek (1994-06-29) 29 June 1994opposite
3 Jakub Kochanowski (1997-07-17) 17 July 1997middle blocker
4 Krzysztof Rejno (1993-02-22) 22 February 1993middle blocker
6 Benjamin Toniutti (captain) (1989-10-30) 30 October 1989setter
7 Piotr Łukasik (1994-07-11) 11 July 1994outside hitter
8 Adrian Staszewski (1990-05-31) 31 May 1990outside hitter
9 Bartłomiej Kluth (1992-12-20) 20 December 1992opposite
11 Aleksander Śliwka (1995-05-24) 24 May 1995outside hitter
13 Kamil Semeniuk (1996-07-16) 16 July 1996outside hitter
15 David Smith (1985-05-15) 15 May 1985middle blocker
16 Dominik Depowski (1995-10-27) 27 October 1995outside hitter
17 Rafał Prokopczuk (1999-03-23) 23 March 1999setter
66 Mateusz Zawalski (1995-02-07) 7 February 1995middle blocker
71 Korneliusz Banach (1994-01-25) 25 January 1994libero

Season by season

Former names
Years Name
1994–1995KS Mostostal Zabrze w Kędzierzynie-Koźlu
1995–1998KS Mostostal ZA Kędzierzyn
1998–2005Mostostal Azoty Kędzierzyn-Koźle
2005–2007Mostostal Azoty SSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle
2007–2019ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle
2019–presentGrupa Azoty ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle

See also

References
  1. "Jubileusz w Kędzierzynie-Koźlu. ZAKSA ma już 20 lat". www.siatka.org (in Polish). 11 March 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  2. "Pupilek miasta, ZAKSA". www.sport.tvp.pl (in Polish). 23 November 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  3. "Historia naszych sukcesów". www.zaksa.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  4. "Emocjonujące mecze pomiędzy ekipami z Częstochowy i Kędzierzyna". www.siatka.org (in Polish). 11 March 2010. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  5. "Historia ZAKSY: 1994 – 1999". www.zaksa.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  6. "Historia ZAKSY: 1999 – 2004". www.zaksa.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  7. "Historia ZAKSY: 2004 – 2009". www.zaksa.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 19 December 2020.
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