We are getting closer to the start of the Spanish Championship by Teams of 1ª Category and, therefore, from the Spanish Federation they are still offering us a series of interviews with the captains of the different groups that will be part of this exciting competition. It's time to get to know Padelpoint Akkeron La Nucía more closely.
Padel World Press .- His is a very special case ... And worthy of admiration. The members of this humble group from Alicante can boast of having climbed from 3 to 1ª Category in just three years, thanks to their tireless work and the delivery of a group of specially Valencian players who, with their effort, have achieved a place in the elite of the national team paddle.
Realists, know that their main objective will be to ensure permanence and, after the draw of the first round, they look at that challenge with optimism: they will have to measure their strengths with the 21 Network, the same squad that won them last year in the great final of the Spanish Championship by 2 Teams Category ... Will there be a rematch?
In his talk with the team of the FEPAlejandro González stressed that he hopes to create the best possible block to make the objective of permanence a reality.
Do you repeat last year's team or have you made any changes?
We have three or four casualties and three or four seniors. The highs are Álvaro García Gallego, who is fourth in the Ranking of the Murcian Federation; Richard Brooks, regular player of previous of WPT; Pío Ignacio Otero, Galician player and who has also done previous Professional Circuit; Javier Alberola, from Alicante and very good backhand player; and, finally, the number one of the Valencian Community that is Salvador Oria, of 19 years and that plays of wonder. At regional level we have a very good team to compete and, at the level of the Spanish Championship, the flojitos but good, very happy.
Do you think you have improved over the past year with these changes?
Yes, I think that we have improved in general terms. Now we have a more compensated team in all the lines, more solid and the truth is that I am happy.
How is the preparation for the tournament going? Have you managed to get everyone together?
The truth is that these guys are all players of the Valencian Circuit, which coincides every weekend in tournaments. Just last weekend were concentrated by the selection of the Valencian Community, which shared training. Everything except Pío Otero, who plays in Galicia.
Already known the paintings, with a first crossing against La Red 21 ... How do you see that clash? What do you think are your greatest rivals for permanence in case of losing in the first round?
Well, we were lucky in the match. With them I think we can compete face to face because there were other teams with whom we would have had very difficult to have achieved even a point in the tie. Also, being the team that won us the final of last year by 3-2 in the 2ª Championship, we can try to take revenge (laughs). Our objective, on the other hand, remains permanence and if it is not won then it is very likely that we will play against Peru Cáceres, which will also be very complicated.
In two years you have gone from 3ª Category to 1ª, being runners-up in 2015ª 2ª Category. How have you experienced this meteoric rise in the team?
Two years ago we created the team, since we had never competed nationally ... And it was a dream. On that occasion we competed with players from here, autonomous, and rather from the province of Alicante. In 2014 we could be champions in Seville, coincidentally in the 21 Network club. In the 2015 stay in 2ª already looked like an achievement. A team was created very similar to 2014 and we were lucky to be runners-up. This year, playing in 1ª Category, because just being present is already a dream for a team like Padelpoint Akkeron La Nucia. We are a humble club but, still, we are very excited.
Are not you scared to be in the same championship with so many stars? Or that motivates you to improve yourself athletically?
All the players of our team find it a dream, since at most they have played a previous one of the WPT Circuit, with which in official competition they have never been able to face them. So it's amazing the fact of participating in this Championship and, if we can face them in some tie, it would be great.
How important has a town like La Nucía been in the development of the team, with such a sporting tradition, as evidenced by the fact that it won the 'European Sports City' award a few years ago?
This afternoon I got into a game in which a player was missing and it was just a meeting that the mayor, Bernabé Cano, who is passionate about sports and a regular paddle tennis player, disputed. Our mayor is very excited about this competition and the truth is that from the beginning, in 2003, when the first tracks were created, it has been an unconditional support. I am very grateful to the City Council and the Sports Department. Surely the mayor accompanies us to Tarragona, since he wants to live very closely the competition.
What characteristics define you as a team? What is the idiosyncrasy of this Padelpoint Akkeron La Nucia Male?
The idiosyncrasies we can say is the humility, effort, work and dedication of these guys. 100% of this sport does not live because many of them have another profession, but they do share passion, love and dedication. That is what they have shown in each of the qualifiers that we have gone through since we started at 3ª until we are going to live in Tarragona, against La Red 21.
What is the most complicated job that a coach or captain has when managing a group like a padel team?
Always the most difficult thing that has a captain or selector is the formation of the team, when you have to decide who will be the ten players who will play the tie ... For those ten bets and you give life. There are always three or four who stay outside and they have to understand and support you. I hope that when he decides, he will be able to make the best team that Padelpoint could carry.
To finish, Richard Brooks, player of the Alicante team, highlighted what it means for him to represent Padelpoint Akkeron La Nucía in the Spanish Team Championship. ”Being able to play in the 1st Category of the Spanish Team Championship is a pride and a dream come true reality. In 2014, when the first team was put together, we were made up of a group of players and friends, who like competition and are passionate about paddle tennis. We only dreamed it, but we had never imagined that in two years we would be playing among the eight best clubs in Spain. Being here has been achieved thanks to the great character of effort and passion that my colleagues and the team as a whole showed ”.
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