Bulgarian volleyball is experiencing one of its strongest summers – the men's national team became vice-world champion with an average age of only 23 years, the girls won the world title two months ago, and all age groups qualified for major championships. We talk about the impressive progress, international response and ambitions for the 2028 Olympics with Nikolay Ivanov, member of the Board of Directors of the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation, coordinator of the national teams.
- Mr. Ivanov, Bulgaria is volleyball - is that how we can define the days we are currently living in?
- We can say that because last week Bulgaria went to bed and woke up with volleyball. I, as someone who has been involved in volleyball for many years, was hoping for something like this, but I never imagined it. I follow the processes closely and, although with a modest participation, I hoped that we would show a good performance at the championship, because I knew that the team was prepared. I knew that the team was well prepared, but as the championship progressed, we saw that good things could happen. And after the successes achieved in Bulgaria, the “wow“ effect was really felt.
- Three strong victories in the groups. Did that give the team the confidence to show a liberated game. Where were the expectations after that?
- The goal was to enter the top eight. Our first goal was to get out of the groups, and then it became clear that this world championship would be different, more interesting and dramatic, because teams like France and Japan failed to get out of the groups. Brazil was eliminated at a later stage.
- And with us things developed better and the way opened up, as they say?
- Yes. We also had a very good combination of circumstances. Others cleared the way for us, but that's also there. We were in a flow that allowed us to do it. But... I want to note that we reached the final thanks to perseverance and a stable game. We didn't get anything for nothing. The boys won every point, every match with dedication.
- Was the match with the USA the turning point? We started weakly, but we showed character that gave us more self-confidence...
- This was a real Rubicon for us. We showed enviable character after being two games behind. But this match with the USA unleashed this dam of the national love of all Bulgarians. Up until this point, all of us who are involved in volleyball, who are close to volleyball, loved ones, relatives, mothers, fathers, we had expectations.
- These people are empathetic, that's clear..
- And then even people who don't know the rules of volleyball stood in front of the TV and were happy for the boys. After this match, there was already a serious interest in what we were doing.
- The average age of the team is only 23 years old, and they are already vice-world champions. What kind of self-confidence does this give?
- Huge.
- A 23-year-old competitor, and he already has a silver medal from a world championship on his card. Where to then...
- Reaching the semifinals, playing in the finals - this gives you a tremendous boost for future work, because being at the top is nice. You get the love and attention of people, you get the respect of opponents. This can only be an incentive for these young guys. I am of the opinion that this team of ours has a very good path of development in a sports and technical nature. We have many things that we need to improve in different components of the game, which will automatically give us added value and there will be more reasons for joy. Ultimately, playing against the strongest teams and showing maximum of your capabilities is priceless.
- How do colleagues from other federations already look at Bulgaria?
- During the championship, they began to look at us with a different eye. They say that this is an organized and focused Bulgaria that pursues its goals. It is no secret that we have a program for 2-3 years ahead, with the last point being qualifying for the 2028 Olympics. The response is serious - Italy, Poland, Brazil, Japan... Everyone is paying attention to this young Bulgarian team. The boys are very dedicated because coach Bellengini has been telling them for several months that dedication, focus and work produce results. This is a formula they know, and I am sure they will follow.
- But we have successes not only among the men. Our girls became world champions just two months ago. A strong summer for volleyball…
- Of course, the girls became world champions - a grand success. Overall, we are sending off a very strong, dynamic and successful summer for Bulgarian volleyball. We managed to qualify all age national teams for major championships. The youngest - under 16 - came out to listen to the anthem with the national jersey at a European championship for the first time. Then the 19-year-old boys and girls participated in world championships, the 21-year-olds too. We are in the Top 10 almost everywhere. This is a reason for great pride and proof that the clubs and the federation work at a high and serious level.