The squad training in Samokov 16 people are the volleyball players I want to take for the World Championship. Unfortunately, I have to let go of two, said selector Gianlorenzo Blengini during the national team's open training in Samokov. By August 27, it will be clear which two will leave the camp. "Damyan Kolev and debutant Dimitar Dobrev, as well as the option Rusi Zhelev, are the alternatives for the absent Bozhilov," he clarified. Blengini explained that the decision will be made at the last minute (August 27), as an unforeseen situation may arise. If the group is reduced to 14 players beforehand, it may be necessary to call up a player from the "long" list submitted to FIVB. Overcoming the group stage is a minimum program, shared the selector, who emphasized that the main goal for the team is to play better and better, especially against the teams ahead of us, with a view to accumulating points for the ranking list. Blengini described the ten-day camp in Japan as extremely important, as in addition to adapting to the time difference, the team will also play control matches against the hosts, already with an updated squad including all their stars. The friendly match with the USA a potential opponent for Bulgaria in the elimination phase will also be useful.
photo: Nikolay Varadinov