‘Two foreign managers’ meet for the first time, Tilikainen-Ogino ‘different nationalities but one goal’
Korean Air and OK Financial Group, led by two foreign coaches in the men’s volleyball V League, met for the first time this season.
Korean Air’s Tilikainen (Finland) and Ogino (Japan) are the only two foreign coaches among the seven men’s volleyball teams. Tilikainen took over at Korean Air in 2021 and led the team to back-to-back championships, winning the men’s volleyball coach of the year award. Born in 1987, he is a young coach in his 30s who doesn’t have much of an age gap with his players. His leadership style is energetic and he has the approachability of a close older brother.
OK Financial Group coach Ogino is a Japanese coach who joined the Korean Volleyball V League this season. He was a member of the 2008 Beijing Olympic team and played as an outside hitter during his playing days. He played and coached for the Sunbirds in Japanese volleyball. He is a former Japanese volleyball star who continues to coach in Japan and Korea.
Korean Air head coach Tommy Tilikainen could set a new record for foreign coaches this season. “We will challenge for a fourth consecutive title,” he said ahead of the season.
The new head coach of OK Financial Group, Masashi Ogino, is looking to turn around a team that didn’t make the playoffs last season and instill confidence in his players.
In men’s volleyball, last-place Samsung Fire has made a surprise run to first place with a 5-1 record at the start of the season.
Korean Air also won the regular season and championship last year, making it three consecutive seasons as overall champions. However, the team has yet to hit its stride due to injuries to key players early in the season. 토토사이트
Korean Air is without its top three strikers, Jung Ji-seok, Lincoln, and Kwak Seung-seok. Instead, Lim Dong-hyuk, Cho Jae-young, and Jeong Jung-yong are leading the offense.
Men’s volleyball’s two foreign coaches faced off for the first time this season. Korean Air swept the match. Korean Air swept OK Financial Group in straight sets, 3-0, with Cho Jae-young and Jeong Jeong-yong leading the offense.
Despite missing a number of key players, what can Tilikainen, who is leading Korean Air to the top of the table, and Ogino, who is revitalizing OK Financial Group, achieve this season?
In the first meeting between the two foreign coaches, Tilikainen, a senior in the Korean Volleyball V League, had the first laugh.