We are discussing current issues with the President of the National Volleyball League, Zhivko Zhelev. The club boss of "Beroe 2016" is at the heart of the revival of this sport in Stara Zagora, and for 3 years, he has also been at the helm of the League, which administers "Efbet Super Volley" and the "Higher League." A month ago, Mr. Zhelev celebrated his 50th birthday. Under his leadership, our elite group has undergone enormous development in all aspects, and it is now deservedly among the Top 10 in Europe.

–Mr. Zhelev, in connection with the upcoming extraordinary reporting and election assembly of the volleyball federation, your name has recently been circulating in the public space as a possible candidate for President of the BFV. Is this true, or not?

– I categorically state: I am not, will not be, and do not wish to be a candidate for this post! I will simply continue to help within my competence the current president Lyubomir Ganev.

 - You were part of the clubs that submitted the petition for an earlier convening of the reporting and election assembly. What were your reasons for signing?

– The main reasons are that we need to make some corrections that are urgently needed, as time is pressing – the championships start in October: men's, women's, youth championships, etc. We urgently need corrections to some of the commissions, so this is the main reason I want the assembly to be convened earlier. Now that the event is already scheduled – whether it will be July 28, 29, and 30, or a few weeks later, it no longer matters much. In my opinion, it should have been at the beginning or end of July so that there would be time for these commissions to be appointed and for the new people to work more effectively. That's all.

- More specifically: which commissions are we talking about? Is it about the youth?

– I'm not just talking about specific commissions. I generally have reservations about all commissions without exception. So, for my commission, as the "National Volleyball League" is a commission to the BFV, to work well and at the pace it is developing, all commissions without exception need to be much more active than they currently are. So that we, from the "National Volleyball League," can exert pressure on all other commissions to work better. That's what I want to happen.

– In this train of thought, you are the reason this league is a valuable product. What will be its future fate? If the rumors that you are leaving your position as leader are true.

– First: these rumors are also not true. I least want to leave my position as head of the "National Volleyball League." And second – I am by no means the only reason this product is what it is at the moment. I have a team I work with. This team includes several people who are also team leaders from the Super League, including the two operational officers of the NVL – Atanas Varbanov and Hristo Apostolov. So we work with a fairly large team that I selected and formed in the "National Volleyball League." That is why this result is not only thanks to Zhivko Zhelev. Because of the team and the work ahead of us, I have no intention of stepping down, unless the clubs wish it, of course. But at the last meeting of the clubs, they expressed their trust in me, and I continue boldly forward.

– So you will run again for a member of the Management Board?

– Just as I will run for a member of the Management Board, I will also be the head of the "National Volleyball League" for at least the next 2 or 3 years. I want to further develop the product. As you know, we are already members of the Confederation of European Leagues. There, we need to work quite seriously with colleagues from other championships. This is a confederation that includes the championships of Italy, Greece, Germany, and France. We are currently trying to include the Polish "Plus League" as well. As you can see, an elite company is emerging. We are already members of this confederation and we want to further develop things, and thus our contacts will become even more serious.

- Do you think the Management Board, in its current form, will be creative in the future, or is some change needed there too?

- The criticisms are mainly directed at the number and the possibility of people employed by the federation participating in it. Perhaps this question should be posed to its president. Otherwise, I am more of the opinion that the Management Board should be reduced to 7 people, whereas it currently has 17. Very few people join with the idea of working for the BFV, and therefore the smaller the number of the Management Board, the better. There were times when the Management Board of 25 people was full of, let's say – people who did not participate in volleyball life.

- We are left with the impression that the date of the election assembly was not chosen by chance at the end of September, as some link it to the upcoming elections in the European Volleyball Confederation at the end of August, where rumors send the president of our federation to a high position in the organization.

– God willing, Lyubo will become Vice-President of the European Federation. God willing! Bulgaria has never had a person in such a high position before. We will all be happy if that happens. And I don't think the date of our assembly has anything to do with it. And if this happens (Ganev's election as Vice-President of CEV), only Mr. Ganev should decide whether he will also run for President of the BFV. And if he is elected – to hold both positions concurrently. I don't think there will be any legal obstacles.

- A few days ago, an interview with your colleague David Davidov was published regarding the work of the Management Board, of which you are also a member. What is your opinion on what he said?

- He's right about many things. Yes, the Management Board is not functioning well. This is one of the reasons why these 52 clubs want early elections and a new management board. But I don't agree with what David says, that he wants to resign, because I think he is a person who has given a lot, is currently giving a lot to volleyball, and will continue to give to this game. And if I am on the Management Board of the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation, I would like to work with someone like him, even though many times we have different opinions, but ultimately that is also the purpose of the board - people with different opinions to make the most correct decisions.

- Since you are also the president of VC "Beroe 2016" Stara Zagora, how will you proceed regarding the start of preparation for the new season - both of your coaches are currently leading the national team for men up to 20 years old?

- That's right, yes. Miroslav Zhivkov is going to the European Championship with another assistant, and Ivan Tasev is returning to Stara Zagora to start the team's preparation. Due to our participation in the Balkan Cup, we are starting training earlier - on August 12, so that we can prepare in the best possible way for the tournament. After all, it opens up an opportunity for us to enter as Bulgaria's fifth participant in European tournaments, and we want to take advantage of this chance.

photo: sportal.bg