A Bulgarian national team player found himself stranded in Dubai due to the escalation of tension between Iran, the USA, and Israel, as learned byVolleyWeek.bg. After the regular season with Grotazzolina, which was relegated from Serie A1, the middle blocker was included in Cuneo's squad to participate in the NAS Sports Tournament in the United Arab Emirates.
The Bulgarian recorded an appearance in the team's second victory in the tournament. Cuneo, competing under the name ALTADAWI, defeated TIGER 3:0 (25:21, 25:19, 25:20) and with two victories, tops the standings in Group B. Petkov finished the match with 3 points, all scored from attack. His Grotazzolina teammate Michele Fedrizzi is also in the squad.
Cuneo controlled the match from start to finish, with stable serving and higher efficiency in attack making the difference in each of the three sets. The Italian team demonstrated balance and depth in its squad, allowing it to rotate without a significant drop in performance.
Beyond the sporting aspect, however, the situation is far more tense. Due to the escalation in the Middle East and subsequent military actions, a number of airlines canceled flights to and from the region, and several countries temporarily closed their airspace. Dubai Airport also suspended flights "until further notice," which casts doubt on the normal return of the participating teams.
VolleyWeek.bg contacted Iliya Petkov, who assured that the situation is currently calm and the team is safe. Volleyball inevitably remains secondary, while the main priority is the security and the possibility for the teams to return to Italy without problems.
We remind you that Petkov is with Cuneo only for this tournament, but it's not excluded that he might stay for the new season, after the team finished 11th and secured a second consecutive season in Serie A1. Cisterna is also in Dubai, set to participate in the playoffs for fifth place.
In a rapidly developing situation, the health and safety of the players and staff remain paramount. The editorial team wishes a successful conclusion to the tournament and, most importantly, a safe return to Italy at the earliest opportunity.
