One of the great legends of Italian and world volleyball – Samuele Papi, will be among the central figures in Teodor Salparov's testimonial match. The spectacle "One Career – One Legend" is on September 5th at the capital's "Arena 8888", and Papi will lead the Italian stars who will participate in the farewell match of the renowned Bulgarian libero.
Papi is part of Italy's famous generation that dominated world volleyball in the 1990s. Under the leadership of Julio Velasco, he became world champion in 1994, and four years later, he triumphed again with the world title.
His rich collection also includes four Olympic medals – silver medals from Atlanta 1996 and Athens 2004, and bronze from Sydney 2000 and London 2012. With the Italian national team, Papi won the European championship three times – in 1995, 1999, and 2003.
The Italian also became a symbol of sporting longevity. His career at the highest club level continued until the age of 44, which ranks him among the longest-playing volleyball players in the Italian elite.
In 2004, after the Olympic Games in Athens, Papi also received state recognition for his merits, being awarded the title of Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.
Salparov's former teammate will set the game
Another name familiar to the Bulgarian public is arriving for the spectacle. The setter for the Italian selection will be the former national player of the "Squadra Azzurra" Michele Baranowicz.
He became Italian champion with Lube in 2014, and in the same season, he won a bronze medal with his country in the World League. Baranowicz also has a direct connection with Teodor Salparov – the two were teammates at Hebar (Pazardzhik) for a short period before the star-studded squad of the club disbanded in 2023.
Another former Hebar volleyball player, Jacopo Massari, who also left his mark during the strong seasons of the Pazardzhik club, joins the team of stars.
Stoichkov, Stiliyan and Martin Petrov among special guests
Salparov's testimonial will not only gather big names from volleyball. After Hristo Stoichkov's participation was already announced, two more of the most recognizable Bulgarian footballers from the recent past – Stiliyan Petrov and Martin Petrov – are joining the special guests.
Thus, the evening at "Arena 8888" is shaping up to be a meeting of several generations of great Bulgarian and international athletes who will pay well-deserved tribute to the career of one of our most successful volleyball players.
bTV will broadcast the testimonial live
"One Career – One Legend" will be broadcast live on bTV. The event comes just before the European Men's Volleyball Championship, where Bulgaria is among the host countries.
Tickets for the testimonial are now available throughKupibileti.bgand Eventim, with organizers also releasing a special VIP category for sale.
Proceeds from the VIP tickets will be donated to the charitable foundation "Sunny Children", whose cause is the construction of a home for children with special needs.
VIP ticket holders will receive premium seats in close proximity to the court, as well as a limited edition bottle of wine specially created for the testimonial in honor of Teodor Salparov. The package also includes access to the official afterparty at the Ozone Skybar of the Millennium Hotel, where participants, legends, guests, and friends of Salparov will gather after the volleyball spectacle.
On September 5th, Teodor Salparov will have his grand farewell evening, and the presence of a figure of Samuele Papi's caliber adds another serious international star to the event in Sofia.
photo:fivb.com
