The Polish national team is already preparing in Sofia for the start of the European Championship. "Drużyna Polska" held its first training sessions in the Bulgarian capital, and setter Marcin Komenda assured that the team is adapting well and preparations are going according to plan. At the same time, the president of the Polish Volleyball Federation, Sebastian Świderski, revealed some organizational difficulties related to the gym and transport.
"We arrived safe and sound. We did stretching, then we had a photo shoot and dinner. On Tuesday we had a gym session, and then training in the hall. Everything is going as it should. We are adapting to the conditions here and I think we are doing well," Komenda commented to Strefa Siatkówki.
The setter admitted that not everything is ideal, but stressed that the conditions allow the Poles to prepare for the start of the championship.
"The conditions are not ideal. However, they are sufficient for us to function, and we should be happy about that. We will do our best not to pay attention to the shortcomings in certain places and will focus on the positive things," Komenda added.
More critical of some organizational details was the president of the PZPS, Sebastian Świderski, who spoke on the show "Misja Sport" about difficulties with the gym and team transport.
"We hadn't even flown there yet, and we already had big problems. For example, with the gym, and suddenly with the bus. They don't want to provide us with a gym," Świderski stated.
According to him, the Polish team was offered to use the hotel gym, but the available equipment is not sufficient for the specific training of volleyball players.
"There is a publicly accessible gym, but some athletes need to do what is called activation before the match. They sent us to the hotel, but there are only a few treadmills and two dumbbells there. So there is an option to bring gym equipment from Poland to Bulgaria or to rent several barbells, weights, and other things on site," Świderski explained.
He also revealed a problem with the team's transport.
"The bus did not arrive on time to pick up the athletes, and because of this, the session was shortened. These are minor things that I hope will not affect our overall performance, but on the contrary - will mobilize the guys," added the president of the Polish federation.
Thus, despite some organizational difficulties, the Polish camp indicates that they do not significantly hinder the preparation. Komenda himself preferred to emphasize adaptation and the upcoming matches, rather than the conditions.
Poland begins its participation in EuroVolley 2026 on Thursday, September 10, against Portugal. "Drużyna Polska" is in Group B in Sofia along with Bulgaria, Ukraine, Israel, North Macedonia, and the Portuguese. Bulgaria and Poland will meet in the last round of the group stage on September 16.