Do you remember Keith Williams? Hi is a big part of Spojnia Stargard’s history. Interview and photos

The best achievement for Spojnia in their history is the 2nd place in 1997. Keith was a leader of that team. People in Stargard never forget him, his attitude and leadership. We have talked to him about that season, about Stargard in 90’s and his life afterwards.

Keith Williams played for Spojnia in 1995/96 and 1996/97. Hi was a key player and his commitment helped Spojnia (or Komfort Forbo as the club was called at that time) in 1997 finish as the second in polish first division. It is still the best results ever for the club.

Keith had played for other clubs before joined Spojnia. He won the league three times with Śląsk Wroclaw (1992,1993 and 1994) and once as s player of Mazowszanka Pruszków in 1995.

Keith Williams will be 56 on the 30th o March 2021. Fans in Stargard remember him very well.

We made a contact with Keith to find out what is going on with him, what does he do, how he remembers those times. One of the best players in Spojnia’s history has told us lots of interesting stories

Reporters of NaM: Grzegorz Drążek and Sebastian Drążek talked to Keith at the beginning of January 2021. Now you can read the full interview.

SEE ALSO: Spójnia Stargard in the 90's of the 20th century. Archived photos

G.D., S.D.: How do you remember the time you spent in Stargard? What are your memories?

K.W.: What I remember about Stargard is the close feeling of a small town. The Main Street with all the shops, seeing and recognizing people that you know each day, the traffic circles, the train station on the hill, the lake outside of town and of course the hala where we played our games. I have heard that "the hala: added more seating which is great so that the Spojnia fans can get more people to the games and create that hot aggressive atmosphere that I remember. I must say I was apprehensive at first when I decided to go play in Stargard but the city & fans welcomed me and we did great things those two seasons putting Stargard on the Polish basketball map.

G.D., S.D.: Are you in touch with any players or other people from Stargard?

K.W.: Thank God for the power of Facebook. I have kept in touch with a few of the players and coaches from the team through Facebook and a number of great fans who remember me and are friends on my page.

G.D., S.D.: Do you sometimes check what is going on in Stargard and the club?

K.W.: Yes of course I have always kept my interest in Polish Basketball and of course all the clubs and cities I played in. I am a member of one of the Spojnia basketball fan pages on Facebook so I get periodic updates on the team and it's players and games.

G.D., S.D.: Do you have the silver medal you won with Spojnia or any other souvenirs from Stargard?

K.W.: My Polish Basketball Federation Komfort Spojnia Silver medal is in my trophy case hanging with the 4 Gold ones I won in Poland. I also still have a plaque and a beautiful crystal ball that I received as the Sportsman of the Year in Stargard in 1997!

G.D., S.D.: Have you visited our country after you had finished your career?

K.W.: I came back briefly in the year 2000 for a friend's wedding and the last time in 2005 for my retirement game in Wroclaw. I have not been back since but I am definitely planning a trip back soon. I really miss Poland and it's people and culture. One day I would like to return and take a trip through the country and visit Stargard with my wife and kids and show them where I lived and played and how much it has influenced me as a man in my life. I promise it will be very soon in the next few years God willing!

G.D., S.D.: How do you remember Stargard and the whole country? 90’ s It was special time for Poland. What did you like and dislike? Do you have some strange or funny memories?

K.W.: My time and life in Poland and even Stargard are filled with great stories and adventures. I remember my 1st season in Stargard I was playing with Martin Eggleston and we were going to a few schools showing basketball and interacting with the kids. It was fun for us but I believe it was educational for the kids. Since Stargard is such a small town in Northern Poland many people and children don't have much contact with outsiders. I remember being in one of the schools and talking with the kids and this one little girl just kept staring at me. I was answering questions and I could see she really wanted to ask me something. She waiting until I was alone and was very brave and walked up to me and asked, " where I was from and if I was from Africa and did my family know I was here. But her special question to me surprised me but she wanted to touch my hand and see how my skin color was. It was a profound moment for both of us and we talked for a few minutes about that I was from America and that I was a black man and about my parents and family. I thought afterwards that the conversation with her would probably change or stay with her the rest of her life.
My many trips to Szczecin and Swinoujscie were special. I even got a chance to travel to Berlin a couple times since it was so close. I remember one of my drives back to Stargard with my girlfriend at the time. I had shipped my car from the USA to Germany and picked it up. I was on my way to Stargard from Wroclaw with my car and it began to snow. I must have been going too fast and about 25 kilometers outside of Stargard I almost skid into a hike off the road and had a very bad accident but thank God I stopped the car before it went off the road, I was so happy to make it to Stargard and my apartment with my car that night!

G.D., S.D.: What were you doing when you left Poland? What have you been doing recently? Do you do anything connected with basketball?

K.W.: Directly after leaving Poland I returned to the USA and took a break from basketball and life for a year. I then began to work in the security industry and became a security site manager. I currently work as a security site Manager at the Headquarters of the CDC Center for Disease Control and Prevention here in Atlanta Georgia.
I really stopped playing basketball competitively right after Poland. If you can remember my best friend in Poland Marek Sobczynski died in a vehicle accident in 97 and I was supposed to be in the car with him. We both had any plans to coach together and for me to stay in Poland but things changed in my heart after he died and I didn't have the passion for basketball afterwards. I still play around with my kids and have the occasional game with friends.

G.D., S.D.: Do you remember the finals against Pruszkow? Everybody in Stargard was supporting you at that time. Do you remember the atmosphere in Stargard?

K.W.: Yes yes this time in Stargard was unbelievable, the atmosphere was electric and one that most fans of Spojnia will never forget. We were on top of the Polish basketball world and no one could believe it. I wished for a better outcome against Pruszkow but they were the better team that season and we gave it a good fight, 2nd place and those silver medals & trophy will always be in the hala of Spojnia Stargard history!

G.D., S.D.: Can you speak polish? Or at least understand? Do you remember the very first polish word you learned?

K.W.: My Polish wasn't very good but it was enough to understand most conversations and to get by each day. Of course every foreigner learns the bad words first but thank you, please and wears the bathroom were some of the first. It helped me tremendously that I found a wonderful girlfriend when I first arrived in Wroclaw in 1991 and she and her family were instrumental to me learning polish and learning how to do things the "Polish way".

G.D., S.D.: Are you planning to visit Stargard one day?

K.W.: Stargard will definitely be on my plans whenever I get to Poland. I will be planning probably a 2 week visit so there will be time for a couple days visit with people and fans of Spojnia Stargard!!! It's wonderful that I am remembered so fondly by people in Stargard and with Spojnia. We made basketball history when I was there and I will always have a special place in my heart for everyone there. Please send my greetings to all people in Stargard especially fans of Spojnia.