A volleyball amateur chose a working profession, but did not quit sport

Bagizat Umerbaeva, one of the many students of the legendary volleyball coach from Kyzylorda region Batyrkozha Babayev, did not pursue professional volleyball. But she never quit her favourite sport, despite her work at Energoremont at CHPP-1 in Almaty and taking care of her five children. Caravan.kz correspondent on International Women’s Day met with the female hero and learnt how to instil a lifelong love of sport.

Baikenge village of Zhanakorgan district of Kyzylorda region. Early 90s of the twentieth century. The volleyball section full of boys and girls. Children are eagerly waiting for the beginning of training, despite the poor spartan conditions, which have not become a barrier for those wishing to practice, and on the contrary, along with the enormous loads and strict approach of the coach to the students and students to some extent helped to lay the foundation of the volleyball school, whose students today on the leading roles in Kazakhstan volleyball.

Recently coach Batyrkozha Babayev, still bringing up young volleyball players in native village, but already in comfortable auditorium with all conditions, celebrated anniversary and invited all his graduates. Bagizat Umerbayeva was among them. She is the daughter of another volleyball coach, could not pass by this fascinating sport, so she started to practice volleyball from the 5th grade and has become one of the best students of Babayev, who just came to the village after graduation from the university. Now, looking back, she recalls that period with a sense of nostalgia.

“We didn’t cry, we didn’t complain, we loved to train, to play volleyball. Now there are all the conditions for volleyball, I look at the young people and I am happy for them. Of course, earlier the training was more intensive, in my opinion, no one complained that they were tired. Now young people like to rest, if they are only a little tired, but it is not enough for a high level. We are the first generation of this school, subsequent generations looked up to us. To us in Baikenzhe for training camps came guys who are now in leading roles as volleyball players, as referees, for example, Aidos Akhmetov – international category referee, as well as Erzat Turanbekov, as well as coach, master of sports Azhar Sarsenova. I am happy for each of those with whom we used to train together”, Bagizat Umerbayeva remarked.

At the jubilee celebration the trainer said important words: “I am pleased that you all gathered for me to congratulate me, I am glad that I have invested my whole life in all of you and you are around me today”. Feeling emotional, the experienced mentor even let a tear fall. He has something to be proud of – teams under his leadership regularly become champions of Kazakhstan, but even those who did not choose the path of a professional athlete, perfectly remember all the subtleties of volleyball, this sport is in their blood. When the time came to choose a specialty, Bagizat could have gone to the physical education centre and moved on to professional sport. But family circumstances forced her to choose another specialty. Now Baghizat works in the power industry, where she ended up thanks to a fortunate acquaintance with a man who showed her the way into this field and supported her during the period of adaptation to her new job.

Here she met like-minded people: two years ago a women’s amateur volleyball team of AlES was created, which every year participates in competitions and qualifying tournaments in the departments. Baghizat successfully combines her hobby and work with training and household chores: dinner is always cooked, children, the youngest of whom is 7 years old, do not stay without her mother’s attention and love.

At the moment Bagizat Umerbayeva is the captain of the volleyball team of “Energoremont”, as well as the amateur club “Parasat”, located in the Karasai district of Almaty region.

Volleyball taught Bagizat important things that come in handy in her life and profession. These include responsibility not only for herself, but also for her team, the desire to go forward and not to give up.

“In order to get everything and at once, it does not always happen, you need to go to success step by step. My life credo is to fall the first time, fall the second time, get up the third time, and it helps a lot in life”, Bagizat Umerbayeva concluded.

Her children also play volleyball – some for general development, others more professionally. This means that the dynasty of volleyball players will continue.

Albert Akhmetov,
https://www.caravan.kz/sport/ljubitelnica-volejbola-vybrala-rabochuju-professiju-no-ne-zavjazala-so-sportom/