The young opposite hitter for Tourcoing (France) speaks toVolleyCastabout his first days outside Bulgaria, about the journey from Belogradchik to the national team, and about the people who helped him believe he could play at the highest level.

"France is a stepping stone, but also a test"

After winning everything possible with Levski, Venislav Antov decided it was time for a new step. The choice fell on France – a championship known for its equality and its ability to elevate players to Italy and Poland.
"I wanted to come here first because I knew it was a strong league and a good stepping stone to bigger leagues. All teams here play volleyball – there's no match where you win in an hour and leave."

In Tourcoing, Veni doesn't experience a cultural shock, but rather a climate one. "Since I arrived, I've barely seen the sun. Good thing we played in Nice, at least there was some there."
The working language in the team is English, but discussions are in French. "The coach only speaks French, the captain translates for me. Little by little, I'm learning enough to get by."
His girlfriend is also with him – something he calls "a huge plus". "It helps a lot because you're far from home, everything is new. If I were alone, it would be harder."

The Beginning in France

His first weeks were turbulent – five friendly matches in less than two weeks, without a single clean win. Then came the first official matches: a 3:0 victory over Paris and a loss in Montpellier with the same score.
"In the first set, we were leading 22:19, they put me in to receive with four players, and they scored two aces against me. From there, everything went downhill. But that's also experience – next time, I'll react better."
The expectations for him don't come from the coach or management. "No one is pushing me. I'm the one who pushes myself the most."

The World Championship and the Set That Changed Everything

"The first match was a matter of life and death."

Antov remembers every detail of the match against Germany. "Our group was tough – Slovenia, Germany, us. If you lose to one, everything gets complicated. And that first set – 40:38 – was simply scandalous. But it was exactly that set that gave us momentum."
After that victory came the belief that things could turn out differently.
"After Slovenia, I already had hope that we could even get a medal. In the final against Italy, I went out to enjoy myself. Such moments might only happen once."
And his philosophy for the underdog remains simple: "When no one expects anything from you, that's when you're most dangerous."

Poland in Poland – a memory that cannot be forgotten

To beat Poland in Poland, in front of a full arena – that was incredible.

In the VNL tournament in Krakow, Bulgaria delivered one of the season's sensations. The Poles started the match with their reserves, but after seeing that the Bulgarians weren't giving up, they brought in their stars one by one.
First Fornal, then the opposite, and finally Leon. But it was already too late – we took the set and the match.
For Antov, this success is more than a victory – it's proof that the young team has a place among the greats. 'That's when we realized we could fight with the best.'

From Belogradchik to 'Heritage Park'

Venislav grew up in a family where volleyball was a natural part of life. His father is a former player, and his childhood was spent among balls and courts in Belogradchik.
'Before I even started training, I could already pass,' he laughs. At 12, his family made the brave decision to move to Sofia so the boy could train at Levski.
'Initially, we considered the Stoychev and Kaziyski academy, but it didn't work out. Then we found out that Levski would have a youth academy again, so I enrolled. It was great luck because that was the year Vladislav Nikolov returned and started the project.'

The position change and the '100 percent' mentality

In his early years, Veni was an outside hitter, but when Andrea Borattini arrived, he moved him to opposite. 'My reception was my weak point, and he insisted on it. So he decided to try me as an opposite – I haven't moved since.'

However, the spirit of 'Heritage Park' is what he misses the most.
'At Levski, one thing was always repeated: you must give your all. Vladislav Nikolov often came to speak after victories, not after losses – because if we hadn't played at 100%, he wasn't happy. That's exactly what made us a team.'

Skrimov, Palev, and friendship in the game

Todor Skrimov is the person Veni calls a 'dream come true.'
'I've watched him on television and always admired him. Playing with him was incredible. A very modest person, he will always help you, he will say a good word when things aren't going well for you.'
With Stoil Palev, they have been inseparable since 2016 – school, Levski, national team. 'We've been together every day. We literally grew up side by side.'

Small battles and smiles across the net

Veni rarely speaks during a match, but there's one exception. 'Only with Preslav Petkov. Ever since he left Levski, we've always been bickering across the net. Last year when Pirin Razlog beat us 3:2, I still can't get over the fact that he beat me,' he laughs.
An interesting encounter also awaits with Vlado Garkov – the two know each other very well and will face each other in the French championship next week. 'There will be emotion, but no bickering. Such matches are special.'

'Levski' as a school for character

Veni often repeats that his biggest lesson in Sofia was not technical, but human.
"At Levski, I learned that it's not just important to win, but how you win. You always have to give your all \u2013 even when everything is going well."
What Vlado Nikolov, Niki Zhelyazkov, and people like Todor Skrimov left him was a sense of responsibility. "There, they teach you to be a man, not just a volleyball player."

Onward and upward

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