Jarosław Hampel: We stayed in PGE Ekstraliga. That was the primary task (interview)

– We missed the start, missed points, and Torun got very strong on us – said Jarosław Hampel after the winning match against KS APATOR Toruń. Thanks to the victory in the last round of the regular phase, the team from Zielona Góra advanced to the PGE Ekstraliga playoffs.

Paweł Pokorski (ekstraliga.pl): Congratulations on the victory. The nerves lasted until the very end. Was there a belief that this victory could be snatched at the last moment?

Jarosław Hampel (NOVYHOTEL FALUBAZ Zielona Góra): We always knew we could win this match. It was not an easy game. We missed the start, missed points, and Torun pressed us very hard. There was pressure and no margin for error. It was tough, but we won, we are in the playoffs, and stayed in PGE Ekstraliga. That was the primary task and we succeeded. And that after such a hard fight? That’s PGE Ekstraliga.

What was the reason NOVYHOTEL FALUBAZ Zielona Góra struggled so much on this home track? It wasn’t as smooth as with the teams from Leszno or Wrocław.

We will analyze that. I don’t want to speak too hastily. We will talk about it, what went wrong. Because we would like to start better on this home track for sure. In the beginning, we were losing those starts.

You started the event great, then there was a slight dip, and then a strong finish, which caused you to win the last race 4:2 and that gave the victory.

Yes, let’s leave it as it is. It was what it was. A very tough match, but with a happy ending. We need to cool down now.

Question about the emotional load before the 15th race. What is it like to go out for such a race? You know the score, you know what needs to be done with your pair mate to be happy.

I’ve started in such races many times and had a lot of calmness within me. Mega concentration not to fall asleep at the start and try to play the first bend well. My performance wasn’t exactly what I expected, but it didn’t matter – Piotr Pawlicki charged ahead and I held 3rd place, and that gave us everything.

One small point more in Częstochowa or one small point from KS APATOR Toruń and NOVYHOTEL FALUBAZ would have faced EBUT.PL STAL Gorzów in the playoffs. But now ORLEN OIL MOTOR Lublin stands in the way. Does it make a difference for you?

I have no idea, I don’t know. We assume that the team from Lublin has its problems. Because they are no longer crushing their opponents like before. That’s what we are counting on. There’s no debating, we can’t think about what would be a better option. We are in this two-legged clash with ORLEN OIL MOTOR and will prepare to perform the best we can.

On a personal level – isn’t it sad that FOGO UNIA is relegating from PGE Ekstraliga?

They definitely didn’t deserve to be relegated. But such a streak of bad luck they had this season, I don’t know when that has happened before. Nevertheless, a merited club. However, someone had to be relegated.