The editorial office received a "Concept for the Development of Bulgarian Volleyball for the period 2024-2028", signed by Ivan Seferinov. We are publishing the document without editorial intervention. We remind you that today an extraordinary Board of Directors of the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation will be held, at which a decision will be made on whether and when an Accounting and Election Assembly of the federation will be convened. This is insisted upon by a petition from 1/3 of the clubs in the country.
"Concept for management and development
of Bulgarian Volleyball for the period 2024-2028
Four years have passed since the election of the current leadership of the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation. Four years in which the volleyball and sports community of Bulgaria expected the big change to happen, as was stated on March 13, 2020, at the General Assembly, where Dancho Lazarov was replaced. The years passed, but the change never happened. On the contrary, something like a bigreplacement, instead of the big change. Because:
1. Instead of the national teams - men and women - stabilizing and seeking results, they dropped in the world rankings, and we are now 20th-21st in this extremely important indicator, and it is precisely this that will determine future participation in major sports forums. It has reached the point where Italian specialists define the representative teams as aproject, as if this is not the national team of Bulgaria, but some private or company team. Colleagues, the national teams - men and women - cannot be someone's project. They are the face of Bulgarian Volleyball and must constantly seek maximum performance and results, and not be experiments in the hands of this or that coach, official, or leader.
We will not allow lobbying for the national teams (at all levels) by individual clubs, managers, coaches, and private individuals.
2.Instead of financial stability, which was much talked about and promised, the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation continues to be in the red - a debtor to many clubs, companies, and coaches. And all this at a time and in years when we received generous financial support from the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the state. When we hosted a series of international events and hosting. When Bulgarian volleyball was still interesting to advertisers and sponsors. The poor financial indicators, evident from the documents of the last general assembly (obligations over 1,200,000 - 1,400,000 BGN), speak for themselves about a weak management team and a failed financial strategy (if there was one at all).
3.It has come to a point where clubs, which are the foundation of the federation, are deprived of the right to democratic elections by regions. Instead of determining and electing a regional representative themselves, names are imposed on them, and people are appointed who are not coordinated with them. Thus, they are not only deprived of their right to democratic choice, but undue dictation is exercised upon them by the headquarters.
Instead of the federation's leadership holding talks with institutions and municipalities for additional funding for clubs and youth sports, we "stumbled" into giving consent for hosting events and activities that consume huge financial resources from the state, without this bringing us added value - either as achieved results or as financial revenues after their implementation.
This vicious practice must be stopped, because it may bring dividends to someone, but not to Bulgarian volleyball as a whole.However rude it may sound, in Europe we are no longer seen as a volleyball power and class, but as a donor for organizing European and World Championships for juniors, as they pat us on the shoulder and praise us for what good organizers we are, and at the same time financially "drain" us like a colonial state, eager for praise from the good European officials.
The women's direction continues to be neglected. This is the moment to thank Mr. Petar Kanev, who managed to save the women's championship, investing his own funds in recent years, and who continues to help, support, and fight for gender equality in Bulgarian Volleyball.
4.And for your information and attention - women's volleyball worldwide enjoys immense popularity - the latest example is the professional volleyball league in the USA. And since Hristina Vuchkova and Emilia Dimitrova broke through there in the very first year, the moment should by no means be missed for the Bulgarian volleyball school to continue its invasion across the ocean and implant girls who will be financially well paid, will develop sportingly and technically, and will be of exceptional benefit with experience and skills for the national team.
И за ваше сведение и внимание - женския волейбол по света се радва на огромна популярност - последен пример е професионалната волейболна лига в САЩ. И понеже там още първата година пробиха Христина Вучкова и Емилия Димитрова, в никакъв случай не трябва да се изпуска момента, българската волейболна школа да продължи инвазията отвъд океана и да имплантира момичета, които ще са финансово добре платени, ще се доразвият спортно - технически и ще бъдат от изключителна полза с опит и умения за националния отбор.
The Bulgarian Volleyball Federation (BVF) and Demax League will support the efforts and ambitions of clubs from Burgas, Varna, CPVC, to build and maintain representative women's teams. The BVF and Demax League will provide logistical and financial support (within their means) for the revival of women's volleyball in proven centers of this sport – Pleven, Vratsa, Kazanlak – and will make maximum efforts to restore dormant schools – Ruse, Kardzhali, and Pernik.
5.Enough of usunderestimatingBulgarian coaches. It's time to rely on them and teams composed of Bulgarian specialists. No foreign coach will care more about the emblem and anthem than a Bulgarian. No one understands the psyche of our girls and boys better, and therefore we must place much more trust in Bulgarian specialists, at the expense of well-paid foreign ones.
6.When we talk about new forms of spreading and popularizing the game of volleyball, we cannot overlook its variations - beach volleyball and the newest - snow volleyball.
There is a huge difference between the two varieties. Firstly, the game on the beach originated in the USA and Brazil, which have excellent opportunities for its practice, and in 1996, beach volleyball became a full member of the Olympic family. Unfortunately, in our country, beach volleyball never managed to establish itself as an independent sport, it went through various stages, and if it weren't for the efforts of a handful of enthusiasts, led by Milko Bagdasarov and the municipality of Kardzhali, we might have forgotten and not talked about any future. And, that this sport has a future, there is no doubt, but it must be led by the people in the beach volleyball commission, who should be granted independence in preparing a calendar, concluding contracts for tournaments and sponsors, and most importantly, building specialized beach volleyball players who have year-round training and participate on the international stage, where points are accumulated and rankings are pursued. Because beach sports are individual sports, just as in tennis there is a ranking list that allows for the pursuit of high results. The commission must be given the opportunity for a comprehensive strategy, not a takeover of its functions and piecemeal work.
As for snow volleyball, at this stage, it is an attraction for winter resorts and nothing more.
Colleagues, these are the most pressing issues that cannot be postponed or dragged out. Of course, there are others, which will by no means be neglected, but addressed in time, solutions will be sought for them.
Organization and Management of the BVF
Wise people have said that the fish stinks from the head!
Hardly anyone here can say exactly how many people are in the federation's administration. But whatever the number, I am convinced that the team needs updating and its effectiveness and usefulness need to be increased. There is no need to reinvent the wheel. It is enough to look at the Italians' house - who are a model for managing and doing volleyball - and use their experience. Therefore, a mandatory reduction in the number of people in the administration, and part of the freed financial resources can be used to increase the salaries of those who will receive additional workload given the modernization of job descriptions. In no case should there be people who are on staff with the BVF and at the same time are members of the Management Board, because this is a conflict of interest.
Within the first year after the election, a new General Assembly should be convened with the aim of changing the current statute, with the aim of reducing the composition of the Management Board, allowing candidates from outside the Management Board to be nominated for Chairman of the BVF, and also, for the two super leagues – for men and women – to be given full autonomy, for even greater effectiveness in their management and for easier finding of sponsors and advertisers. Club presidents must participate in the management of the leagues, because they produce the product and they must produce it.
Regions should be four, and regional managers should participate in a council or commission that decides all tasks and problems at their level.
Creation of a public council, which should include prominent names of Bulgarian volleyball from the past, public figures and activists who have proven their commitment to Bulgarian volleyball and can be useful with ideas and advice, as well as shape public opinion.
Funding of the BVF
Forms and Mechanisms of Control
It is normal for an audit of the BVF to be requested immediately. It must become crystal clear to everyone in Bulgarian volleyball and to the public what the current financial situation is. The BVF is financed by the Ministry of Youth and Sports and from its own revenues from advertising, sponsorship, and economic activity.
Unfortunately, the poor results of the national teams and the failure to qualify for the Paris Olympics will put us in a difficult situation, as it will be difficult to justify high financial parameters, and probably in 2025 the money from the state will be less. The unconvincing games of the national teams lead to more difficult communication with sponsors and advertisers, which also implies reduced own revenues - when we add to this the inefficient use of 'Hristo Botev' hall, which is provided as a national volleyball center, but most events in Sofia are redirected to another hall, the prospects for improving the financial condition of the federation are not optimistic.
Given this and the serious obligations that the federation has so far, the budget appears to be a serious problem. Therefore, urgent and immediate measures will be necessary.
The above findings without actions for solutions are like a diagnosis without treatment. And that treatment will be difficult. Strict measures and rules will be required to ensure not only the present, but also the future of Bulgarian volleyball.
Therefore, I will demand:
Mandatory audit. Immediate discussions with institutions, companies, and those private and individual persons to whom we have obligations, to find solutions and reschedule these obligations. Review of all contracts. Wherever violations are established (if any), accountability – administrative and judicial – will be sought. Wherever there are serious expenses that cannot be justified, their termination will be considered, even at the cost of penalties. In one sentence, in this emerging difficult situation, we will introduce a financial board (as a temporary crisis measure) until the recovery and stabilization of the financial framework of the BFV.
We will do everything possible to use the hosting of the Men's European Championship - 2026 to achieve positive financial indicators. And for this purpose, we will build an organizational team of managers who can cope with this task. By the end of 2026, the BFV must have emerged from financial collapse and be able to work calmly during the remaining two years, which are extremely important as they are pre-Olympic for the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
Work with clubs and the youth department
Undoubtedly, clubs are the most important structural element of a federation. In this direction, I will ensure that they can absolutely independently manage the Super Leagues by including presidents in their management. The Federation will strive with maximum logistics and its own additional funds to support the preservation of volleyball centers - Kardzhali, Pernik, Dobrich, Pazardzhik, etc. To create conditions for proven schools like CSKA, Levski, Slavia in Sofia to expand their facilities, and this must happen with insistence and discussions with the municipality. To restore the faith of small clubs from the provinces that they too are part of the volleyball family, by including them in various programs and activities. To restore the democratic election of regional officials and stop the dictates from the central office.
BFV in development and new quality
Bulgarian volleyball is changing and will continue to change. But this will not happen with a magic wand, but with precisely measured steps and in line with real possibilities. The path, however, is one, clear and irreversible. Changes and development - structural, sports-technical and, God willing – financial. To become a stable and strong federation whose voice is heard not only at home but also abroad. This is the great strategic goal.
You know me well, as a person - competitor, coach, activist. You know that I am a person with character and that is why I will tell you, as the great statesman Stefan Stambolov said: "I will even grab the devil's tail if I have to, but I will pull Bulgaria out of the abyss!" Paraphrasing - I will pull Bulgarian volleyball out of the quagmire it has sunk into.
And finally
I will insist on investing in Bulgarian coaches. Because they are the great capital! In their professional training and qualification, in retraining. We must create sufficiently good conditions for young coaches - both for professional and career growth, as well as for their material security. So that we don't lose them after we have created and trained them.
Conclusion
Bulgarian volleyball has turned one hundred years old. It has endured through time, withstood changes, and will continue to develop. It looks forward because it has a glorious past, a difficult present, and, God willing, a revived future!
So much for intentions.Time for action!
Ivan Seferinov?
