An Italian, an Olympic silver medalist from Rio de Janeiro 2016, was among the official guests in the hall and watched the decisive matches shoulder to shoulder with Bulgaria's head coach Gianlorenzo Blengini. Daniele Sottile's presence at the Bulgarian Cup finals in Samokov added additional weight to the tournament.

Sottile is not just an observer with an interest in the game. He is part of the Italian national team which, under Blengini's leadership, reached the Olympic final in Rio, where the 'Azzurri' only conceded to Brazil. Thus, the connection between the two in Samokov has a clear professional context – a coach and a setter who shared the biggest stage in volleyball.

From Rio 2016 to Samokov

At the 2016 Olympic Games, Sottile was one of the experienced setters in the Italian squad – a team distinguished by discipline, tactical maturity, and exceptionally strong play at the net. Blengini, then coach of the 'Squadra Azzurra', built a team that reached the final and brought one of the most valuable accolades in the history of Italian volleyball.

Nine years later, the two were together again by the court – this time in Samokov, but in different roles. Blengini was following the performance of the Bulgarian teams in the context of his work as national coach, while Sottile – now head coach of the Sicilian ADG NDT Solutions – Volley 96 – observed the tournament with the perspective of someone who thinks about the game beyond the specific match.

The fact that an Olympic silver medalist was present at the Bulgarian Cup finals is significant. This is not just a ceremonial visit, but a sign that developments in Bulgarian volleyball are being closely monitored by representatives of the Italian school – one of the most authoritative in the world.

Samokov became not only an arena for the battle for the trophy but also a place for professional meetings and exchange of ideas. And the presence of Daniele Sottile – a man with an Olympic medal and over 25 years of career at the highest level – gave a clear international context to the tournament.

Photo: Nikolay Varadinov