Nikolay Ivanov, the national teams' coordinator, was among the official guests at the ceremony where the U19 volleyball players received the "Team of the Month" award from Press Club "Bulgaria." The occasion was their historic triumph at the World Championship in July – a gold medal that brought well-deserved recognition to the young champions. 🏆
"Today we are already seeing the fruits of this generation. For three years, work has been consistent, with care and attention. I would say to these girls – welcome to the club of world champions. Evgeni Ivanov and I did it in 1991 (Bulgaria became Youth World Champion in Cairo then, editor's note), and now they reminded us what that feeling is like. The excitement is enormous – many people stopped me to congratulate us. They are an example for young people, not only as competitors but also in terms of upbringing and character," shared Ivanov.
He emphasized that the federation's next task is to provide a rich international calendar. "The focus is now on the 2007–2008 age groups. We will not allow their summer to pass without tournaments and development. The Balkan Championship is a great opportunity – playing against Serbia and Turkey is thrilling and an important test," added the coordinator.
Ivanov also summarized the past few years:
"The Federation operates differently. We brought back national testing, introduced a scouting program, and gather dozens of children in the halls. We have a project that reaches over 70 schools. Every champion starts there – regardless of whether they played on asphalt or cement. We compete with federations with huge budgets, but we show that we can be competitive."
His advice to the champions is clear: "To be perceptive, to watch and listen. Volleyball is an intelligent sport that opens doors all over the world."
Team manager Evgeni Ivanov, also a world champion from 1991, also conveyed his message:
"There's no way to compare the conditions then and now. But one thing is certain – these girls will hardly realize the scale of their success even years from now. My advice is not to stop here. They are already European and world champions, holding two of the three most valuable titles. But they will truly become great if they continue to seek new heights."]}````
