In an interview with Lora Krumova on the program "Na fokus" on NOVA, the chairman of the Bulgarian Wrestling Federation Stanka Zlateva commented on the strained relations and the challenges facing Bulgarian sport.
Zlateva emphasized that the stakeholders in sports are "businessmen" and that the distribution of finances by the Ministry of Sports must be fair and transparent.
She noted that the new rulers have stopped some flows of funds, which has caused resentment. Zlateva pointed out that certain athletes ignore invitations to camps and refuse contracts, and this, according to her, is a result of conflicts with certain individuals and structures. Despite the difficulties, she is adamant that the rules must be followed for wrestling to exist in Bulgaria.
„First of all, let me say that Mr. Soslan Farniev cannot have any claims in another country. He cannot come and set the rules of the Bulgarian Wrestling Federation, to complain to the Ministry of Sports that they did not receive their bonuses. They have invitations to CSKA, with which they are called to a camp. He cannot say who will be the coach of the national team. There is a federation, there is a Board of Directors, with which everything is determined...“, began Stanka Zlateva.
When asked what the battle is at the moment, the head of the federation announced briefly: „The battle is - the tap has been turned off.“
„The Ministry of Sports gives some money to the federation. And they distribute it and support the athletes. You all know that the athletes are from CSKA, these medalists. The ministry also gives CSKA a budget that is not small - 100-200 thousand leva, with which they still support them. And this tap, when you turn it off, because now, you see, we have a different concept, with different people, we have a hotel, we serve all ages. This thing has clearly started to annoy them“, she added.
“If you are not at work and do not do your job, who will give you a salary? What claims can you have if you do not go to work?“
“Farniev came here before he came, other people worked with Semen Novikov. Let's not forget that there was another boy in this category there. And they screwed him. He beat him twice before the Olympics. And in the end they have a fight, in which the boy was injured and lost the match, and he leaves. Let's not forget these facts, because people don't know them. They spit. These people are mercenaries. If tomorrow there is a war in our country, they will be the first to leave. They are not Bulgarians. Understand that just raising the flag does not make us Bulgarians.“
„Because we actually have nothing at the moment. We have 3-4 people to rely on. Everything else is buried. This age group - from cadets to men, is empty.“
„They are under the umbrella of Mr. Ganchev (Grisha Ganchev - ed. note). That's where the problem lies. We have sent them invitations if they want to come. They don't want to, they refuse to sign contracts, they refuse to come to the camp. They don't want to. They don't want to. Since they don't want to, there's no way we can force them in principle. They refuse absolutely everything. Why should we be guilty of their choice? I can't understand.“
When asked by Lora Krumova whether Stanka Zlateva is boycotted by some of the medalists who refuse to join the centralized training of the national teams, she replied: “Yes.“
“They are a lot of leaks, which are clearly starting to be felt. I think the end has come a long time ago. This is a business. Don't you understand that this is a business. The state gives, but no one is grateful to this state for feeding them for, say, 10 years. It gives a budget, it gives CSKA a budget for the same thing. They train in a hall that is not theirs, they don't pay anything. They train again, they win again“, added Zlateva.
“So, let's think that we take them and let them go. And they lie down at the first competition and say that Stoyan Dobrev is not suitable for a coach. Given that they spat on him, that they don't want to work with him. I think there is no way around it.“
“There are rules and they must be followed, otherwise there will be no fight“, Stanka Zlateva concluded categorically.