The 33-year-old Belgian spiker, who played in Italy for three seasons, is captain of his national team. His club: “He remains under contract with us, we will support him in this battle.”

“Sam, we are with you.” This is how Lokomotiv Novosibirsk announced that Sam Deroo, the Belgian spiker who played for three seasons in Italy, has cancer. “After a routine examination, Sam Deroo was diagnosed with cancer and will have to undergo chemotherapy,” reads a post on the club’s social media, which has sided with the player. “Our spiker’s contract remains valid and he remains with the team, together with us. Our thoughts are with Sam and we pray for his recovery. We will support our player in this difficult battle.”
Sam Deroo is 33 years old, married to Hanna, and has two children. In the Italian league, he played for Modena from 2012 to 2014 and then for Verona in 2014-15. He then moved to Zaksa (in Poland), Dinamo Moscow, Kazan, and finally Lokomotiv Novosibirsk. During his career, he has won two national titles in Poland, the 2020-21 CEV Cup with Dinamo Moscow, and is the captain of the Belgian national team. “For many years, Sam has been a pillar of our national team and a role model for young volleyball players,” the Belgian Volleyball Federation wrote in a statement. As a federation, we are now focusing first and foremost on his recovery and offering him all the support we can, together with his family, club, and teammates. The entire Belgian volleyball community stands with Sam during this difficult time and wishes him strength and a full recovery, while respecting his privacy and that of his family.”