För er som vill veta mer om Carlos Araujo i herrlaget – här kommer lite matnyttigt.
Foto: sportfoto.olsin.se
Carlos Araujo is a spiker in the Sollentuna Mens Elite Team. This is a short interview with Carlos.
Let's start with where you are from? Im from Fortaleza, a northeast city from Brazil.
Is this your first year abroad as a professional volleyball player? If not, where have you been before? No, I ve playing professionally in Brazïl, for 3 years, in indoors teams in Sao Paulo, and i was playing beach volleybal in my city, for 3 years also.
What goals do you have with your volleyball? Well, I have a degree in journalismo, so volleyball can be a B plan for me. Actually, I came to Sweden for try good contrats financially talking. Here in Sweden or in another country in Europe.
And how can being in Sweden help you achieve your goals? Here we have lots of foreigners playing, then, I think is usual that some professional team can see the performances of the players here. Im looking for a chance in professionals teams, that pay good salaries.
Tell us about your first practice with the team. What did it feel like and what did you think of the team and the coaches? It was during the last summer, I did a test, and the coach and the guys were training with us. It was nice, I felt good in the first moment with the players.
And the first game? Which team did you meet and what where your impressions? The first game was interesting. It was against the team that we are playing the semifinals… Orkelljunga. (Sollentuna vann med 3-0 i matcher. Reds anm.) But it was a good beginning. In that game, we won for 3×1, I received the MVP of my team. It was very nice for me, particularly.
Carlos in defence. Foto: sportfoto.olsin.se
What do you think you contribute to the team? I think I'm experient, and I think my way to play can help the guys to be in a good energy during the games… About my technical skills, I prefer leave for the guys of the team tell about them.
Have you learned anything from your stay so far? Yes, a new culture, the lifestyle here, the cold is hard, but is so beautiful. Well, lots of new experiences for me here…. I'm having fun.
Are you a competitive person and is it important to win? Im very competitive.. Ethical, but competitive. For play as a professional you must to think in a competitive way, all the time. I think to win, be competitive is one of the most important things.
What is you favourite action on the court? I love to spike. That's my favorite action. In all the positions.
Carlos favourite action. Foto: sportfoto.olsin.se
When did you start playing volleyball and why? Well, I began with 12 years old, when I was in school. All the guys wants soccer in Brazil, but I prefered volleyball since the begin.
Do you have any role models for your volleyball? Yes, I have… Giba, a brazilian professional player, and probabily one of the best players in the world now. I like the brazilian national coach, Bernardinho. Hes a big winner.
Tell us about your home town and the volleyball there? Is indoor volleyball big and are people interested in the sport and the team progress? Well, the volleyball there is not so big, only beachvolleyball. Indoor volleyball, only for universities and some rare teams. But, the best product from my city is the weather, beach, and sun. Amazing.
What do you think of the Swedish Elitserien? I think this season, the level is good. We have lots of balance between the 8 first teams, with exception of Falkenberg, that won most part of them. But, I'm satisfied with the level here. Is a good championship.
You practice a lot, do you have any team mates that you spend time with apart from practice? Actually, not too much. After trainings, just working out and lifiting weights.
How does it feel to be in the semi finals? Im feeling very good Specially cause we won yesterday, and miss only one more game to go for big final.
Carlos during line-up and presentation. Foto: sportfoto.olsin.se
How far will the team go this year? We can go for big final, and there… Everything can happen!
Any last comments or things you want to add? I'd like to say thanks for everyone in the club. Specially for the restaurant owner, David, that prepared really good food for my lunch, everyday. And thanks for the guys of my team, for be so nice guys.
Thank you very much Carlos for your time!