Fernando “If you do not have an opportunity, make it yourself”

Have you ever wanted something really bad, but there was no visible chance to get it? Have you given up or continued to work until the desired goal would have been achieved? Oftentimes, there is no available opportunity for us to do what we are passionate about. And this concerns just the simplest things like doing sport; attending a music or art school; playing football etc. “I can do nothing if there is literally no sports club or school which I can attend”. Do you think that this is a true answer to such a problem or we should just look at this from the other perspective?

In today’s story, we would like to share with you a great experience of Fernando Acosta and his way of

seeking an opportunity to do the sport he loves the most. Just to give you a short preview, Fernando has faced a situation when the valley-ball club he played in was about to shut down. There has been literally no other club to pursue his passion for playing and competing in the city where he lives. But instead of accepting this as an ultimate fact, he has chosen the other attitude by asking himself “What can I do about that?”. Let us find out more about what was a prerequisite for Fernando’s passion for volley-ball and which solution his enthusiastic attitude has led him to!

“In my teenage, I was trying myself in different kinds of sport like basketball, football, and tennis. My performance was pretty good in any of them. When I decided to give a try in volleyball I faced quite some challenges. In volleyball, it is very important to be tall what gives an ability to play better over the net. The fact that I am shorter than an average volleyball player did not make me down. Contrary, the feeling of challenge moved me forward and kept me motivated. The need to jump higher and to train harder pushed my limits and this was the crucial factor why I chose valley-ball as a sport for myself”, says Fernando.

Sometime after Fernando had moved to Germany to do his university degree, he found a local volleyball club he joined. Things have seemed to be quite cool and stable. He made many friends in the club and just enjoyed playing the game he loved the most. But one day Fernando’s team received bad news about the shutdown of their club that was actually the only one in the town. When the opportunity is gone some people tend to find something else to do, even though they do not feel passionate about it. However, it was not the case for Fernando. He and his best friend brainstormed themselves and came up with obviously not the easiest solution which was to found their own volleyball club.

I was oftentimes dreaming of how awesome it would be to have my own club, where I could realize my ideas, be in charge of progress and most importantly grow together with the club. The news about the shutdown hit badly each team member. However, it served me as a push to turn from dreaming to acting.

Together with his best friend Fernando made an action plan they followed in order to organize a volleyball club.

It is very important to have a like-minded person who has the same passion and wants to achieve similar goals. This helps not only to manage things but also to generate ideas, gain energy and motivation to move forward through difficulties to the stars.

Fernando and his friend managed all the things needed for a smoothly functioning volleyball club just starting from scratch. It was a challenge to manage all the bureaucratic formalities, find sponsors, organize actual teams and provide them with the necessary equipment. But hard and consistent work always brings the desired result.

Nowadays, in the German city Regensburg, there is a convenient opportunity for all who wish to play

volleyball to join “Donau Volleys Regensburg”. The club provides an opportunity for people from different age groups to train and compete in a range of different competitions. “I feel that role of the club is especially important when it comes to supporting kids and teenagers. This is the age when everyone should be given an opportunity to try him or her in sport and to decide whether they like it or not. Each new season we organize an open day when parents can bring their kids to the training. Our trainers help them with all questions related to volleyball and training”, says Fernando.

Currently, Fernando has a managing director position in the club. Even though he is very busy with various things like administration, finance, and controlling, he finds it very cool.

Having a clear purpose and working on it makes my life full of sense. I feel that all I do matters not just only for me, but also for others. This keeps me ready to do my 100% to make club run as good as it possibly can.

Each successful story starts from a dream or lack of something that matters for us. All great athletic clubs were led by ordinary people with extraordinary ideas. Readiness of these people to work instead of talking and to try instead of hesitating let them realize their goals and provided others with an opportunity.

We hope the next goals Fernando sets for Donau Volleys Regensburg will be accomplished soon.

Giving up is never the option when a visible opportunity is not there. Come up with the right idea, find like-minded people obsessed with the same goal, and work on it. Then, nothing will stop you!!!

Yours,

Bonis Rebus team!