The foreign investor who stayed with KB for four years, the 203cm German flower boy, has departed. "It's natural for fans to remember Beena, but I am also ready."

*This content was translated by AI.

"It is only natural to remember Beena. But I too am prepared to leave my own mark."

Andres Beena, who had shouldered the offensive responsibilities of KB Insurance Volleyball Team for four years, has departed. Taking over that heavy role is Linus Weber (27, registered name: Weber), an opposite spiker and former German national team player, who declared he would not chase anyone's shadow but instead create a new history with his own volleyball.

Weber met with reporters at the KB Insurance training camp in Sakai City, Japan, on the 12th, saying, "I want to contribute to our team with all my passion and soul," and added, "Not just me, but also my teammates and fans should join this journey to create a great season."

KB Insurance opted for change by selecting Weber in the KOVO foreign player draft last May. A former German national team player, Weber is an opposite spiker standing over 2 meters tall, known for his powerful spikes from high contact points and his forceful serves. He has also gained experience playing on European stages in Germany, Italy, and Poland.

Weber himself cited his physical attributes as his greatest weapon. "I have good physical condition and strong shoulders, which gives me an advantage in serving and spiking," he said, while adding, "But I am a player who continues to strive for improvement in other areas such as technique, tactics, and mental strength."

The Korean V-League was a new challenge for him. Although he had experience playing on a short-term contract in Qatar in 2022, spending an entire season in the Asian league is practically his first time.

The decision to choose Korea was also influenced by former teammate Kyle Russell, who previously played in the V-League. When Weber arrived last month, he stated, "I heard a lot about the V-League through Russell. I thought it would be a very interesting new challenge and opportunity for me."

To focus on his new team, Weber did not join the German national team this year. He explained, "I wanted to take on challenges in a new environment. I heard there are differences between European volleyball and Korean volleyball, including tactical aspects, and found those differences interesting. I saw it as an opportunity to show another kind of volleyball to Korean fans and to develop myself."

Adaptation has been smooth. Weber said, "All my teammates have been very supportive, and we have professional staff, so there are no major difficulties," while laughing that he has even fallen in love with Korean foods like bibimbap and galbitang.

However, he is currently unable to participate fully in team training due to an injury to his right thigh sustained during practice. He is focusing on rehabilitation at the Japanese training camp. Weber instead views this injury as a catalyst for growth.

He said, "I am the type of person who pushes myself very hard, and that led to overexertion," adding, "But it has also been a good experience and lesson for me. I am confident I will be at 100% condition when the season opens. This injury could even become an opportunity to make me stronger."

He expressed no major concerns about adapting to the team and building chemistry. Weber said, "Although it has been a short time, we already know each other well. Above all, communication is going very smoothly," while showing confidence that he has no major worries about his performance on the court.

For KB Insurance, Weber's performance is inevitably important. Beena served as the team's main hitter and problem-solver for the past four seasons. In the new season, not only Beena but also outside hitter Lim Sung-jin will be absent due to military service. Although Hwang Kyung-min returns and Na Kyung-bok prepares for a comeback, the presence of a reliable foreign opposite spiker who can take responsibility for scoring in key moments remains crucial.

Weber did not shy away from mentioning Beena's name. He said, "It is only natural for fans to remember a player who has been active for so long," while adding, "But I too am prepared to leave my own mark here. I want to show everyone how far my limits go."

KB Insurance has never won the V-League championship since its founding. Last season, they finished third in the regular league but were eliminated early after losing to Woori Card in the semi-playoffs. While this team is more eager than any other for a championship trophy, Weber stated he does not set winning the title as an immediate goal.

Weber said, "I believe winning comes at the end of a long journey. Right now, we are just at the starting point. Rather than focusing solely on the goal of winning immediately, we should concentrate on areas where we need to improve," and emphasized, "If we do that, victories and points will follow, and ultimately we can bring home the championship."

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*This content was translated by AI.