How BOGDANKA LUK Lublin reached the top, and Alex Grozdanov became part of the success
The reason this story is being told to the Bulgarian public is no coincidence. A part of the "Hollywood script" through which BOGDANKA LUK Lublin transformed from a friends' club into a Polish champion is also our national team captain, Alex Grozdanov. The story is based on a conversation between club president Krzysztof Skubiszewski and the specialized Polish websitesiatkarskieligi.pl.
Grozdanov's presence is not an episodic detail, but another proof of the club's philosophy – to attract volleyball players with character, quality, and readiness to play under the pressure of the highest level. This is how Lublin built the team that today wins the Polish Cup, the Supercup, and confidently looks towards defending its PlusLiga title and to the Champions League.
In just over a decade, BOGDANKA LUK Lublin has covered a path that other clubs dream of for generations – from a team of friends to a Polish champion and a constant participant in the battle for all possible trophies.
After winning the TAURON Polish Cup, the volleyball players from Lublin have already achieved two of their four big goals for the season. Before that came the AL-KO Supercup, and on the horizon remain the defense of their PlusLiga title and the long, tough campaign in the Champions League.
The beginning: an idea, not a business project
The story begins in 2013. The then LKPS – Lublin Club of Volleyball Friends – was not a marketing construct, but a literal description of reality. Former players, left without teams, decided to create something of their own. There were no big budgets, no big promises – only the desire to play volleyball.
In the photo:The future club president Krzysztof Skubiszewski – fourth from left to right, kneeling; above him is the future vice-president Maciej Krzaczek (with a shaved head)
An interesting detail: already in the first season, the team was only one set away from promotion. Today, president Krzysztof Skubiszewski admits that this was more of a salvation than a miss. The club simply was not ready organizationally and financially for a higher level.
People from the court, not from the offices
Skubiszewski and Vice-President Maciej Krzaczek did not start as managers. They went through all roles – players, coaches, organizers, and only then presidents. This is precisely what gives them their current advantage – they understand the team from within, they know how the locker room thinks and what is truly needed for a club to operate sustainably.
In the photo:Vice-President Maciej Krzaczek (left) and Krzysztof Skubiszewski (right) with the team.
The decision to build the structure slowly and consistently proved to be key. Sponsors appeared, a hall came, the club gained trust, and began planning not only for the next season but for the coming years.
From "someday" to championship reality
The initial goal was clear – stabilization in PlusLiga and a fight for medals in the longer term. What followed, however, came much faster than expected. The Polish title changed everything – the status, the interest in the players, as well as the daily work in the club.
Skubiszewski does not hide it: the championship cup is heavy. And not just physically. It means higher salaries, more competition for the players, and significantly more responsibilities for the management.
Leon and the change in mentality
It's impossible to tell this story without Wilfredo Leon. The best volleyball player in the world doesn't just raise the sporting level – he changes the psychology of the entire team. With his presence, the players begin to believe that they can win everything.
Other key figures grow around him, including setter Marcin Komenda, who is now considered a leader in his position in Poland. Leon doesn't win matches alone, but he sets a standard that everyone strives for.
Stability instead of overbidding
BOGDANKA LUK Lublin is not the richest club in PlusLiga. But it is among the most stable. This is precisely what allows the management to retain key players even with higher offers from competitors. The conditions, the tranquility, the quality of life in the city, and a clear vision often prove decisive.
It's no coincidence that the club announced the extension of contracts for most of its stars and the coaching staff at an early stage – a rare move for Polish volleyball reality.
A Hollywood script written with patience
From a team of friends to Polish champions – this truly sounds like a Hollywood script. The difference is that in Lublin, success doesn't come with magic, but with patience, consistency, and people who know what it means to be part of volleyball not just from the stands, but from the court.
And perhaps that's exactly why this story continues.
