Beroe 2016 continues to build its squad for the new season, and ambitions in Stara Zagora are gradually rising. The club is attracting the 203-centimeter Polish opposite hitter Jędrzej Ziółkowski, while president Zhivko Zhelev is already talking not only about a top-three finish, but with the final completion of the squad – also about an attack on the title.
Ziółkowski was born on June 9, 2003, is 203 centimeters tall and weighs 89 kilograms. Last season, the 23-year-old Pole played for Czarni (Radom) in PLS 1. Liga – the second tier of strong Polish club volleyball. Before that, he spent three seasons in Września – from 2022/23 to 2024/25.
The path of Beroe's new acquisition is interesting. Ziółkowski is a product of the Warsaw academy MOS Wola Warszawa and played as a setter in his youth. Subsequently, the 203-centimeter tall volleyball player was retrained as an opposite hitter.
In Stara Zagora, he will also meet a well-known teammate. Ziółkowski and Beroe's other new Polish acquisition – Jakub Rzaca – have already played together in Września. The two left the club after the 2024/25 season, and now they are reunited, this time in Bulgaria.
"He is in good functional condition and will not need time to catch up in preparation. We have direct impressions of him. He is young. With him, we continue the trend of relying on promising volleyball players. We want Beroe 2016 to upgrade," commented Zhivko Zhelev to the club's website.
The president of the Stara Zagora club is pleasantly surprised by the current condition of the entire team. "I hope that in a month we will be even better on the court. I am very pleased with the newly acquired Jakub Rzaca and Nikola Dzoreta," Zhelev said. He is holding talks with the new foreign acquisitions with the idea that some of them will stay in Stara Zagora for a longer period. The initial goal for Beroe is a top-three finish, but with another important development regarding the squad, the bar will be raised.
"If we manage to arrange the documents for the Iranian Amir Mahamad, we will aim for the title. I firmly stand by the thesis that when a team participates in a championship, it is obliged to pursue the gold medals," Zhelev stated emphatically.
The first test is the "Stara Zagora Cup"
How far the new Beroe has progressed in preparation will be seen in a few days. From October 1 to 3, the Stara Zagora team will host the international friendly tournament "Stara Zagora Cup" in the "Ivan Vazov" hall.
Neftochimic 2010, CSKA, and the Serbian Vojvodina (Novi Sad) will also participate in the competition. The format provides for each of the four teams to play three matches.
Program of the "Stara Zagora Cup"
October 1
4:30 PM – CSKA – Neftochimic 2010
7:00 PM – Beroe 2016 – Vojvodina
October 2
4:30 PM – Beroe 2016 – Neftochimic 2010
7:00 PM – CSKA – Vojvodina
October 3
3:30 PM – Neftochimic 2010 – Vojvodina
6:00 PM – Beroe 2016 – CSKA
After the last match, the awards ceremony and the official closing of the tournament will take place.
Meanwhile, Beroe is also preparing its new season tickets for the 2026/27 season. Their price will be 100 euros, and a single ticket for the home matches of the Stara Zagora team will be 10 euros.
Thus, the tournament in early October comes at the right time for Beroe – an immediate opportunity for the new signings to be seen together on the field and a first more serious test of how well the club's stated high ambitions align with the look of the new squad.
