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 not accidental. Part of the "Hollywood script" by which BOGDANKA LUK Lublin transformed from a club of friends into a Polish champion is also our national team captain, Alex Grozdanov. The story is based on a conversation between the club's president, Krzysztof Skubishewski, and the specialized Polish websitesiatkarskieligi.pl.
Grozdanov's presence is not an episodic detail, but further proof of the club's philosophy
– to attract volleyball players with character, quality, and a 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 title in PlusLiga and towards 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 made up of friends to a Polish champion and a constant participant in the battle for all possible trophies.
After winning the TAURON Polish Cup, the Lublin volleyball players have already fulfilled two of their four major goals for the season. Before that came the AL-KO Supercup, and on the horizon remain the defense of the 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 literally a 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 Skubishewski
– fourth from left to right, squatting; above him is the future vice-president Maciej Krzaczek (with a shaved head)
An interesting detail: even in the first season, the team was only one set away from promotion. Today, President Krzysztof Skubishewski admits that this was more of a salvation than a miss. The club simply was not organizationally and financially ready for a higher level.
People from the Court, Not from the Offices
Skubishewski and Vice-President Maciej Krzaczek did not start as managers. They went through all roles
– players, coaches, organizers, and only then became 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 really needed for a club to operate sustainably.
In the photo:Vice-President Maciej Krzaczek (left) and Krzysztof Skubishewski (right) with the team.
The decision to build the structure slowly and consistently proved crucial. Sponsors appeared, a hall became available, the club gained trust and began to plan not only for the next season, but for the years to come.
From "Someday" to Championship Reality
The initial goal was clear – stabilization in PlusLiga and a long-term fight for medals. 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.
Skubishewski doesn't hide it: the championship trophy 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 elevate the sporting level – he changes the psychology of the entire team. With his presence, players start to believe they can win everything.
Other key figures grow around him, including setter Marcin Komenda, who is today considered a leader in his position in Poland. Leon doesn't win matches by himself, but he sets a standard that everyone strives for.
Stability instead of bidding
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 calm, 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 only from the stands but also from the court.
And perhaps that's exactly why this story continues.
