European club tournaments often offer emotions, but few stories can compare to this one: Slobodan Kovač, head coach of Fenerbahçe and the Turkish national team, against his son Davide Kovač, a key attacking player for Radnički Kragujevac.
Fate decided the two would meet in the CEV Cup 1/16 final – a duel that carried family tension, professional prestige, and a sporting intrigue that captivated the European volleyball audience.
The Road to the Match
Radnički reached this stage after a difficult but impressive run in the Champions League qualifiers. The team overcame two phases but was eliminated by AH Volley in the final battle. Thus, Radnički's squad found itself in the CEV Cup tournament, where right from the start, they drew one of the toughest possible opponents: Slobodan Kovač's Fenerbahçe.
For Davide Kovač, this meant not just a European match, but a game against his own father – the man from whom he learned the fundamentals of volleyball and whose principles he grew up with as a professional.
An Emotional Explosion in "Ezero" – A Match to Remember
In the "Ezero" hall, Radnički played one of their strongest matches of the season. The audience witnessed not only a clash of different styles but also a true family drama at the highest level.
The final score is conclusive:
Fenerbahçe – Radnički 3:0 (25:23, 25:19, 38:36)
But the progression doesn't tell the whole story. The third set reached the 38th point – an indicator of the home team's immense desire to win a set and extend the match.
| Fenerbahçe – Top Scorers | |
|---|---|
| Yiğit Gülmezoğlu | 19 pts. |
| Adis Lagumdžija | 15 pts. |
| Mirza Lagumdžija | 13 pts. |
Fenerbahçe demonstrated excellent balance in attack, and Gülmezoğlu once again showed he is a leader in key moments. The Lagumdžija brothers maintained a stable tempo and were the backbone in attack.
| Radnički – Top Scorers | |
|---|---|
| Mladen Bojović | 20 pts. |
| Ivan Čirović | 16 pts. |
| Davide Kovač | 14 pts. |
Radnički had a real chance to win a set thanks to the strong play of Bojović and Čirović. Davide Kovač showed maturity and stability at the net, despite facing the team led by his father.
Between respect and professionalism
Slobodan Kovač did not hide his emotions after the match. For him, the encounter had a dual meaning:
– a duel against a club where he played and worked;
– a clash against his own son, who is increasingly establishing himself in European volleyball.
But still – on the court, there's no room for sentiment. Both entered the battle as professionals, and after the last point, the respect between them was more than visible.
