Poland’s PlusLiga is one of the premier male volleyball domestic leagues in the world. This is so true, that a lot of leagues try to copy it, as recently stated by France’s domestic league officials. However, with such a heavy calendar, which has to be balanced with other competitions such as the Polish Cup and CEV Champions League, it is safe to say that by the end of the season, players are exhausted from all the playing and travelling. Here is what Zaksa‘s superstar setter Benjamin Toniutti, who only recently extended his contract with the club, had to say of the matter:
“We play a lot of games. I think that PlusLiga is too big, 16 teams is a big number. In other countries, the play-off phase has already begun, and we have 5 more rounds until the end of our regular season. I think that a decision to reduce the league to 14 teams would be good, especially for teams that play in European competitions.”
Let’s not forget that once Toniutti’s season with Zaksa ends, he will also have to spend some time with the French national team, which must have weighted in his opinion. But is there a solution to this conundrum? Probably not, as PlusLiga boasts good attendance results. Less teams would mean less games, which in turn would means less profits for the clubs. It is safe to assume that league officials and team presidents don’t want to see their profits go down.
Zaksa currently leads the competition with a 22-3 record and is a heavy favorite to three-peat as PlusLiga champions.
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