The President of the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation, Lyubomir Ganev, believes that the participation of the women's national team in the European Golden League next season could prove to be an important step towards the team's recovery after its relegation from the Volleyball Nations League.
According to him, the tournament offers two significant advantages. The top six teams in the final standings will secure direct participation in the European Championship in 2028, and matches against opponents of a similar or lower level will give Bulgaria the opportunity to accumulate more victories and valuable points for the world ranking list. In his words, such successes can restore the team's self-confidence and assurance, which he believes are lacking in decisive moments of matches.
Ganev pointed out several main reasons for Bulgaria's relegation from the Nations League. He highlighted the absence of key volleyball players due to injuries, including Iva Dudova, who underwent surgery, as well as Maria Koleva, who stopped participating due to health issues and went to Germany for additional medical examinations. Furthermore, some of the younger players refused to join the national team.
According to the BFV President, the most serious problem is the lack of a prominent leader who can take responsibility in the most crucial moments of matches. He recalled that Bulgaria lost a number of contested sets by a minimal margin, including against France, and admitted that with its performance this season, the team did not deserve to retain its place in the Nations League.
Ganev also provided a retrospective of Bulgaria's participation in the VNL. He reminded that the national team got a chance to play in the tournament in 2022 after Russia's exclusion, and in 2024 avoided relegation due to the increase in the number of participants from 16 to 18 teams.
The Federation President also revealed that after the last match, he urged the national team players to play without pressure against Germany, to show their qualities, and to enjoy the game. After the tournament ends, the team will get about two weeks of rest before starting preparations for the European Championship.
Ganev also commented on the future of the Nations League. According to him, the tournament program has already been definitively approved until the end of 2027, and no format changes are expected. He recalled that the International Volleyball Federation reinstated Russia and Belarus in the world rankings following recommendations from the International Olympic Committee, with their points preserved during their exclusion from international tournaments.
According to him, Russian teams will be able to return to the VNL no earlier than after 2027. A meeting of the Nations League committee is expected to take place in September, but according to Ganev, it is not realistic for changes to be made for the next season, as the hosts and distribution of tournaments have already been definitively determined. He also recalled that Bulgaria will host one of the tournaments from the second week of the men's Nations League in 2027.