31-OCTOBER-2012
ANDRÉ SÁ: FULFILLING
PROJECT IN NORWAY
 

In a moment everything changes.
André Sá, which was the Head Coach of Esmoriz GC Men team and National Team assistant coach last season, embraced a new challenge in Norway.
The Portuguese coach now bets in the international projection of the Women’s team Stod Volley.
So far everything is working well, as Stod won two out of two matches, in straight sets, for the Elite Division, the main championship of the Scandinavian country.

1. What attracted you the most in this Norwegian adventure?
“I really liked the club’s project, thus Stod Volley has the objective of accomplish something never done before in Norway. Turning the club into a reference in the sport and turning it competitive at international level. This project is very attractive but at the same time, requires a lot of responsibility and hard work”.

2. How it’s being your adaptation at personal and professional levels?
“The adaptation isn’t being difficult because my wife (Amanda Sá) is here to support and she has already lived here for two years, and having family on our side makes everything easier and my wife has a major role in my adaptation. And soon the family will become larger, as were expecting our first child. At professional level, things are working well too. The club provides everything to do my job and it becomes easier to adapt this way”.

3. What are the major differences between coaching in Portugal and Norway?
“There are great. In Portugal I coached an amateur team, now I’m coaching a professional team, therefore everything is different. However there is a long path yet towards the training culture, thus some players became professional only this year who don’t know, entirely, how to behave professionally. In order for us to have an international competitive team, we must engender a different mentality and training culture, to achieve a higher level. Half the team is composed by foreign players which makes the process easier”.

4. What is the club’s expectation towards the competitions ahead (Elite, Norwegian Cup, Challenge Cup and Nordic League)?
 “Our goal is to win the Elite Championship, the Norwegian Cup and the Nordic League. These are our main goals for this season. As a bonus objective, we aim to achieve the Challenge Cup 2nd round and acquire some international experience.
We don’t have much time to spend. This week we will play in Sweden for the Nordic League 1st round, on November 11 we will play the Norwegian Cup Quarter-Finals, on November 14 we will play in Hungary against Obuda Vasas Budapeste, for the Challenge Cup.
Due to this schedule we will play again for the Championship only on November 17”.

More info: www.stodvolley.no