BIALYSTOK, Poland. Mar 8 (PS) — Thiago Rangel Cionek, Jagiellonia Bialystok's Brazilian defender would like to play in the Polish national team. He has requested for Polish citizenship, but still is waiting for a response from the legal office.

Jagiellonia helped the player in preparing a proposal for granting him citizenship in July last year. They have still no response, but Cionek knows that he must have patience.

"Approximately 1900 years of Poles emigrated in search of work and a better life," says Cionek.

The President Jagiellonia Cezary Kulesza recently argued to Poland coach Franciszek Smuda that Cionek is a very worthy player to be called-up.

"But he is better than, for example Sadlok. Smuda really has to check him out." believes Kulesza. But first he must obtain Polish citizenship, then maybe he will get his chance for the Bialo-czerwoni.

Coach Michal Probierz believes that Thiago can play safely on the Polish national team, thanks to his skill he would not stand out.

"He is more Pole than Brazilian. This is shown by his ... technique," Probierz laughs.