KS Orlen Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki will arrive in Saarbrücken at HYLO® Champions League Men Final 4 (to be played on 16th and 17th May) with growing confidence and the ambition to continue one of the most successful periods in the club’s history. Over the past two decades, Bogoria have established themselves as a dominant force in Polish table tennis, collecting 10 national team championship titles and building a strong reputation on the European stage.
The Polish side have been regular contenders in both the Champions League and the Europe Cup, formerly the ETTU Cup. One of their biggest European achievements came in the 2012/2013 season, when they reached the ETTU Cup final. More recently, last year, the club reached a historic breakthrough by advancing to the Champions League Final 4 for the first time, confirming their place among Europe’s elite clubs.
Their route to this year’s HYLO® Champions League Men Final 4 once again highlighted both quality and consistency. Bogoria opened the knockout stage with a dominant Round of 16 display against SF SKK El Niño Praha, recording back-to-back 3-0 victories to underline their authority.
The quarter-finals against domestic rivals KS Bank Spółdzielczy Orlicz 1924 Suchedniów proved far more demanding. Bogoria edged the first leg 3-2 away from home before securing qualification with another tense 3-2 victory, showing composure and resilience in the decisive moments.
One of the club’s greatest strengths is the balance between experience and emerging talent. Milosz REDZIMSKI continues to establish himself as one of the brightest young players in Europe, while the experienced Panagiotis GIONIS brings calmness, tactical intelligence and leadership to the squad. Alongside them, Takuya JIN and Marek BADOWSKI provide further depth, supported by promising young Polish players including Wojciech SZYMCZAK and Michal GAWLAS.
For Gionis, reaching the Final 4 once again is already a major achievement for the club.
“Reaching the Final Four of the Champions League in back-to-back seasons is something very special for us,” said GIONIS. “From the beginning of the season, this was one of our main goals, so we are very happy we managed to do it again. Now we want to see if we can make something even more special.”
The experienced Greek knows the challenge awaiting Bogoria in Saarbrücken will be enormous.
“We know it will be extremely difficult against 1. FC Saarbrücken TT. They are an unbelievable team, especially at home, with fantastic fans and world-class players like FAN Zhendong, Truls MOREGARD, Patrick FRANZISKA and Darko JORGIC. But we will try our best.”
GIONIS also highlighted the importance of the younger generation inside the team, especially REDZIMSKI’S rapid development.
“Milosz is becoming our superstar. He is an incredible young talent and I’m very impressed with how quickly he is improving. At 46 years old, of course I no longer have the same speed or power as before, but I believe my experience helps the younger players deal with pressure, feel more confident and enjoy these moments.
“It’s a great combination – experience and young talent together. Marek is also improving year after year and he is still very young. It works both ways. Their energy gives me extra motivation as well.”
REDZIMSKI believes the experience gained from last season’s Final 4 appearance could be important for Bogoria this weekend.
“I think our previous experience gives us a lot of confidence because we know what to expect at this level,” said REDZIMSKI. “Playing in the Final 4 is always something special, and having players in the team who already experienced these matches helps us stay calm and focused. At the same time, we know every season is different, so we need to prove ourselves again at the table.”
Despite his young age, the Polish international has already become one of the key figures in the squad.
“Of course there is always some pressure in important matches, but I try to see it as motivation rather than something negative,” he explained. “I focus on my preparation, trust my work and try to enjoy the opportunity to play at this level. Being trusted by the team gives me extra confidence. We expect a very difficult match because Saarbrücken are one of the strongest teams in Europe and they have a lot of experience in these competitions. Every match will be tough and details can decide everything. But we also believe in our qualities and we will fight for every point.”
The young Pole also stressed the importance of the balance between youth and experience inside the team.
“Experienced players like Panos bring calmness, knowledge and leadership, especially in difficult moments. Younger players bring energy and ambition. Together it creates a very good atmosphere and helps the whole team develop.”
REDZIMSKI recently competed at the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals, where Poland suffered a disappointing Round of 32 defeat against Romania, but he insists the focus has now fully shifted back to the club season.
“It was definitely a difficult moment emotionally because we had bigger expectations for the tournament. Losing a match like that is never easy, but in professional sport you have to recover quickly. After a short time, my focus was already back on the club season and preparing for the Final 4.”
He also believes the World Championships experience can help him ahead of the decisive weekend in Saarbrücken.
“Every international event gives you valuable experience and extra motivation. Competing against strong players always helps you improve and prepares you mentally for the biggest matches.”
Asked what could make the difference if Bogoria are to reach the final, REDZIMSKI pointed to mentality and teamwork.
“The key will be staying mentally strong and fighting for every single point. In matches at this level, small details are very important. We need to play with confidence, support each other as a team and take our chances when they come.”
