The memorial tournament in memory of the former CSKA and national team volleyball player Ventsislav Todorov was held in the village of Chuprene, Vidin region. The event gathered friends, relatives, and teammates of Todorov, as well as a number of significant figures from Bulgarian volleyball.
The tournament was organized by his daughter Teodora Todorova, who, on her own initiative and with a personal invitation, attracted famous names from the volleyball community to participate. Among them were the president of the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation Lyubomir Ganev, the coordinator of the national teams Nikolay Ivanov, members of the BFV Management Board Borislav Kyosev and Dimo Tonev, Lokomotiv Avia coach Nayden Naydenov, team manager Lyudmil Naydenov, and Petar Uzunov.
In addition to the symbolic match between veterans, the tournament program also included matches between young volleyball talents from the academies of Montana and Berkovitsa, BTA reported. They competed against each other, demonstrating both sportsmanship and potential for the future development of volleyball in the region.
The mayor of Chuprene municipality, Maria Todorova, announced during the event that by a decision of the Municipal Council, Ventsislav Todorov was awarded the title of honorary citizen of Chuprene municipality. In his honor, the sports ground at the local school will bear his name.
During the event, Todorov's relatives and teammates shared memories of their joint work with him both on and off the court. Nayden Naydenov recalled a number of moments filled with emotion and human closeness. Dimo Tonev described Todorov as "a true man and a person you could rely on in the most difficult moments."
In a show of support for the local community and the development of sports among children, the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation donated a professional volleyball net, which will be installed on the newly named court. The idea is for the volleyball tradition in Chuprene not only to be preserved but also to be developed through new initiatives and sports events.
Mayor Todorova emphasized that this memorial tournament is just the beginning. The municipality's intention is for it to become an annual event, and in the future – an international tournament that will bear the name of Ventsislav Todorov and continue to inspire young people to play sports.
photo: BFV
