Anyone who wanted to recognize the unifying power of sport had to pay attention to the game-defining figures at the Berlin Volleys in recent years: Sergej Grankin, a blond, heterosexual Russian with a left side parting, acted as the director.

Benjamin Patch, a tattooed, dark-skinned, avowedly queer American, shone as the exploiter of his feeds.

Together they were almost unbeatable.

Achim Dreis

sports editor.

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And when things went particularly well, as in the 2020 Berlin cup victory in Mannheim against Düren, they then stood arm in arm at the beer counter and let the fans celebrate their volleys.

For three and a half seasons, the two formed a congenial duo, won three German championship titles together and reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League twice.

Gone are the good times.

This Tuesday, the Berliners announced that Sergei Jurjewitsch

Grankin, born in Kislovodsk in the North Caucasus in 1985, does not want to come back to Berlin after the summer break.

And that despite the fact that he had just extended his contract with the BR Volleys until 2023.

Now the sudden farewell.

Managing Director Kaweh Niroomand said: "The decision, which was made after careful consideration, was really very difficult for him, but the political and family circumstances make further engagement abroad difficult." contract terminated.”

Grankin himself said in parting that he wanted to thank everyone "for four incredibly wonderful years in Berlin".

He enjoyed playing "for this club and in this atmosphere of the Max-Schmeling-Halle." He hopes "in the current situation you can still understand my decision".

Despite the four years in Berlin, where Grankin has long felt at home, he is still deeply rooted in his home country.

He sees his private future with his family in Russia.

The “current situation” referred to is the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

The Volleys announced in March that they did not expect any restrictions for their Russian captain at club level.

Grankin came to Berlin in January 2019 after spending 13 years with Dynamo Moscow.

With the Russian national team he became Olympic champion in 2012, it was the greatest success of his career.

At the time, the Berlin public had expected that the Russian, who appeared overqualified for the Bundesliga, would only make a brief flying visit to Germany before he was drawn to a more lucrative league.

But the initially cool East European stayed, warmed up visibly, and in the course of the three and a half years of his work, not only became the captain of the Berliners, but also a crowd puller in the foreign halls.

"What Sergej has achieved for our club in four seasons is simply great," says managing director Niroomand in conclusion, but above all: "He was the shining light of the Bundesliga".