After three key U18 champions didn't get a chance in the national team last year, the story is repeating itself with the U16s - only one player has been called up from the champion team CSKA. Coach Neven Neshev is sounding the alarm again: "This way we are pushing children away from sports."
1. Mr. Neshev, after it became clear that the CSKA team has only one representative in the U16 national team, despite winning the "Vitosha" region, how would you comment on this selection?
I will summarize it in a politically correct way: our federation is touchy and doesn't like criticism.
These are the facts - from the team that finished first in the "Vitosha" region, only one player was called up to the extended squad out of sheer embarrassment. Are 15 children from Bulgaria better than our boys from CSKA? Even if my assessment is emotional, in practice things don't seem logical and objective - one player was called up from the first team, and five from the second-placed teams.
2. CSKA's successes show consistency and serious work. Do you think this result is just a matter of momentary luck or of long-term effort and development?
Did our boys win 13 out of 14 matches by luck? Is it only coaching activity? I don't believe so. Don't they deserve recognition and encouragement for the effort and hard work they put in throughout the season?
3. In your opinion, what should be the role of the federation in such situations and what steps should be taken to ensure more fairness in the selection process?
Here is the role of the federation, yes. There must be transparent and objective criteria when selecting boys for the national teams. It's no coincidence that in recent years, suspicions have been circulating in the volleyball community that if you're not in a certain club, you don't get a place in the national team. And these suspicions are growing stronger every year.
4. How does such injustice affect children and their motivation to continue in sports?
It is extremely difficult to motivate a competitor to continue fighting after encountering such injustice at the dawn of their career! This also leads to athletes who didn't hit the "right" club giving up. They don't see a future. A 5-7 year period to see their realization is far off for them.
5. What is your approach as a coach in this situation and what do you tell your boys who feel neglected despite their efforts?
I teach my athletes honest and dignified play, I want them to succeed and win with volleyball means on the court, but unfortunately, they are already starting to understand that for selection to the national team, volleyball arguments are not enough. This situation has been going on for years and I don't see it ending soon.
6. What are the alternatives for a talented boy who doesn't see a chance in the national team?
In such a case, the motivation for athletes remains to go abroad. But this is a terribly difficult and uncertain path.
7. Still, what do you want to tell your boys who continue to fight despite the difficulties?
My belief is that one day there will be no "favorite" teams of the federation, and all athletes will be evaluated according to their qualities, not according to their club affiliation.
To my boys, I want to say that we believe in them and that all the hard work they put in will one day be appreciated by the right people - even if it's abroad. No hard work goes unrewarded.
