For Zbigniew NĘCEK, the upcoming ETTU Champions League Women Final 4 is far more than another major European event. It is the result of decades of work, development and belief inside one of Europe’s most successful women’s table tennis clubs.
Tarnobrzeg will host the first-ever Women’s Champions League Final 4 on 23-24 May, welcoming Europe’s four best teams in what is expected to become a new flagship event for women’s club table tennis.
“I have been working in Tarnobrzeg for 39 seasons,” said NĘCEK. “Our club has come a very long way in the ETTU Cup and Champions League competitions, so hosting this historic first Final Four tournament feels like the crowning achievement of many years of work.”
Over those decades, KTS Enea Siarkopol Tarnobrzeg have grown into a true European powerhouse. Alongside 32 Polish championship titles, the club has lifted the Champions League trophy four times and consistently remained among Europe’s elite.
For NĘCEK, the decision by the European Table Tennis Union to award Tarnobrzeg the organisation of the Final 4 is recognition not only of sporting success, but also of the club’s long-standing professionalism.
“We always tried to organise ETTU Cup and Champions League matches in Tarnobrzeg professionally and in a friendly sporting atmosphere,” he explained. “I believe the positive decision by the ETTU leadership was closely connected to the reputation our club has built.”
Preparing an event of this scale has brought enormous organisational demands.
“I expected organising the Final Four would be a huge challenge, and reality has confirmed that completely,” admitted Nęcek. “We will do everything possible to ensure all participants leave Tarnobrzeg satisfied with their stay. We will be fully available for our guests, although we also hope for understanding because this is the first time we are organising an event of this size.”
The project would not have been possible without strong long-term support from sponsors and public institutions, especially strategic partner Enea.
“Without the positive response of our sponsors and partners, we would never have been able to meet the high costs of the event,” said NĘCEK. “The Ministry of Sport and Tourism, Enea S.A., the City of Tarnobrzeg, Totalizator Sportowy, the Podkarpackie Region and ZCH Siarkopol are our trusted long-term friends.”
At the same time, Tarnobrzeg remain one of the strongest sporting contenders for the title itself.
Combining organisational duties with elite sporting preparation has created an extraordinary challenge for the coaching staff.
“HAN Ying and FU Yu competed at the World Team Championships, while YANG Xiaoxin has been playing at the WTT Feeder in Istanbul,” explained NĘCEK. “Fortunately, we have worked together for many years and developed a system that allows us to prepare optimally for the most important matches.”
The squad itself perfectly reflects the club’s philosophy – combining world-class experience with carefully selected new talent.
“To have a chance of succeeding in the Champions League, the team must include world-class players,” said NĘCEK. “At the same time, we constantly try to bring in new high-level players like Satsuki ODO from Japan or NG Wing Lam from Hong Kong.”
Still, for the coach, the most important element behind Tarnobrzeg’s success has never changed.
“The key to our long-term success has always been the excellent atmosphere inside the team,” he said. “Because of that atmosphere, we won matches that many people believed we had no right to win, especially in 2019 when we sensationally won the Champions League for the first time.”
NĘCEK also hopes the new Final 4 format can become an important step forward for women’s club table tennis in Europe.
“We want to be a partner in this new concept, not only an observer or critic. This is our common goal together with the ETTU.”
And while he understands the strength of the opposition arriving in Tarnobrzeg, the ambition remains clear.
“We must always fight for the maximum result,” said Nęcek. “But we also know all four teams have enormous potential. May the better team win. And of course, if my team wins, I will be a very happy coach.”
