The main volleyball figure in Sliven confirmed the widespread theory that Bulgarians cannot and do not want to work as a team.

We discussed many topics with the president and head coach of Volleyball Club "Sliven", Zhivko Zhelyazkov. The specialist, who is also a native of "the city of a hundred voivodes", gladly accepted our invitation for this interview. We present to your attention the entire conversation with him:

Hello, Mr. Zhelyazkov! First, how are you and where do we find you?

Hello. We have returned from a training camp in Bansko and are now in the hall in Sliven, focusing on technique. I have a family vacation scheduled for early September – something I've deprived my loved ones of for 20 years.

Mr. Evgeni Ivanov, as you learned from our media, resigned as chairman of the Youth Volleyball Commission at the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation (BVF). As you are a long-time specialist specifically with young volleyball players – what is your opinion on the matter?

A normal act on the part of Mr. Ivanov, after more than 50 clubs are dissatisfied with his work. This action of his deserves admiration. Over the years, we have witnessed cases in the opposite direction – people do not resign despite dissatisfaction against them. So, Evgeni Ivanov's action is a man's one.

In this regard – how do you assess the overall management and functioning of youth academies in the country and their monitoring by the commission and the volleyball headquarters, since the mandate of the new BVF leadership began?

This is a very complex question. It's a fact that the commission has not listened to the small clubs and coaches. I can immediately give an example – at the beginning of the past three seasons, I constantly send the same proposal: to have a national championship for every age group up to 8th grade. This is the case in many countries... It was especially urgent this year for the boys born in 2008, to prepare for the World Championship. Excluding the middle blockers, the libero, the opposite, and one outside hitter who played an entire season as a libero, all the others only trained all year. At the same time, positive things were done regarding youth championships, the most important being that the BVF covered referee fees for children. However, there is a big "but" here: the same clubs host regional championships, Zones, and Finals. I don't want to give examples, as colleagues are easily offended.

Mr. Zhelyazkov, you are the president, coach, and founder of VC "Sliven" – everything started for you as a volleyball club in 2003. In these past 21 years, what seems most important to you that needs to be changed in the Youth Sports Schools (YSS) in Bulgaria, what are your observations, recommendations, and suggestions?

You missed cleaner, masseur, psychologist, entertainer, security guard, and beggar :) (laughs). Very good question. I will omit to say certain things before the General Assembly for the simple reason that there is no one to listen now. However, one very important thing that should not be overlooked – the children's sports commission should be staffed with members who are presidents of volleyball clubs. Who, if not the manager of a club working with young people, would know how to do this? Regional coordinators are not responsible for discussing the development of children in this commission, but for organizing championships by regions and helping clubs in this direction. If there are club presidents, as regional coordinators they should not be members of this commission. The talent tournament program must be immediately terminated and the interregional championship returned. At the end of each season, the six regions hold a tournament. This covers more children, more coaches, and is a winning formula from the recent past. I think many proposals from good colleagues can be adopted.

And what is the biggest problem in youth sports, particularly in volleyball?

Things should be divided into two: working with young people in large clubs and working in small clubs. The truth is that small clubs have stopped working (with small exceptions), while Sofia teams have started working with the youngest. When I was a young coach, at these age groups I had many more victories against Sofia teams, perhaps a ratio of 80% to 20%. Now I have two children and I cannot stay in the gym all day. In Sofia there will always be young coaches available who are ready to work and prove themselves. There are simply many... With us, in small towns, coaches are few and still have to feed their families. The small club cannot provide a salary and fees have to be charged. Paying a fee by a parent in a small town automatically creates the thinking in them that their child is the future Matt Anderson. Honestly, I have no idea how these things can be changed. I hope the future commission finds solutions...

Since the connection between youth and senior volleyball is extremely important, we should also pay attention to the top of the "pyramid". As we know, a new elective assembly of the federation is coming – there was much talk of early elections, but that didn't happen. What do you expect the future of the BVF to be after this important event?

I personally expect Lyubo Ganev to win without a problem. I hesitate whether to participate in this General Assembly, because over the past year the mockery towards me – a club leader established 21 years ago – was unique. I am having conversations with friends from the Management Board (MB) of the BVF who are dissuading me, but the bitterness in me is great. The other striking thing for me is that a working person like David Davidov does not want to be on the MB. This is the moment to appeal to him to run again. My expectations are that the Children's Commission will indeed be filled by about ten club presidents whom we all respect.

As we mentioned earlier, you are not only an unyielding and persistent manager, but also a passionate coach who loves his work with young volleyball players. What is your assessment of your club and the situation with volleyball in Bulgaria since you have been a part of it?

It's a fact that I have managed VC "Sliven" for 21 years, finding funds. Over the years, we have achieved very good results for a small club, produced quite a few athletes who also played abroad. This took a tremendous toll on me... You have no idea what kind of idiots I've fought over the years – just so there could be volleyball in Sliven. It's a fact that in the person of the mayor of Sliven, we have the support of the Municipality – support we didn't have before. Another fact is that for 21 years in volleyball, I have never sought any positions in the federation for the simple reason that my strength is with children. Perhaps this should change... Realistically, I don't have an assessment, because nothing in Bulgarian volleyball has ever depended on me. I thought about quitting volleyball this year and had made a firm decision... But the situation with my son changed my mind.

Last but not least question. Where do we stand compared to other volleyball nations? What is your observation of the competition – among youth, and among men and women?

A complex question. I don't believe anyone has the exact diagnosis, but it's a fact that we're doing something wrong. I can't comment on the women's profile, quite strange things are happening there. In youth men's volleyball, I believe we are in the top 5 in the world up to 18 years old, but in senior men's we lag far behind. In other countries, we see people begging and fighting to be part of national teams, while here they quit at 28-30 years old. Giving way to the young... The young ones barely develop as athletes and boom – they're also 30. I think the reasons are many: Bulgarians cannot work in a team, they think they are the best and irreplaceable in a team/collective, mentality... We have strong generations – those born in 2003/2004, 2005/2006, 2007, 2008, which provides a prerequisite for a strong national team in a few years. Whether this will happen – I don't know, but there are real chances for it to happen. However, if we quit at 28-30 years old or don't want to be a second choice, nothing good awaits us.

Interview conducted by: Bozhidar Boyadzhiev