Volleyball legend Antonina Zetova was officially introduced as the new head coach of the women's national team. This was done by the president of the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation, Lyubomir Ganev. The coordinator of the national teams, Nikolay Ivanov, also attended the meeting with the media.

"I thank the federation for the trust placed in me. Both as a player and as a coach, my greatest passion has been the national team. Above all, the idea is to work modestly with the aim of achieving results. I realize what a responsibility it is to lead the national team and we will try to bring joy with results and play," were the coach's first words at the press conference at the "Vasil Levski" National Stadium.

"Our decision is for the entire U19 staff to be together in the national team. These are predominantly young, motivated boys who have a great desire to work. The concept is to build a strong core in the team, to which younger players will gradually be added. Development in volleyball is a process. I would say that volleyball skills do not come suddenly at 18, 20 or even 21, that is impossible. They come with accumulated experience, that's when volleyball intelligence appears. This is also the right way to grow," Zetova added.

"My opinion is that everyone who plays at a high level should be invited to the team. I myself returned to help the national team at 36, and some of these players were young girls then. However, we will find out what they think about the matter - the situation is difficult, because most of them are mothers, wives, have families, they have to make big compromises.

I want to say that there is speculation about my close relationships with some players in both directions. It's normal for me to know them and we have good relations. Elitsa (editor's note - Vasileva) was like a child to me when I was in Italian Perugia. But a clear distinction must be made between relationships and professionalism. Because things don't work out that way. I insist that relationships in the team are not close, but strictly professional," Toni Zetova stated her position.

"Already during the preliminary talks with Lyubo (editor's note - the president of the federation Ganev), we agreed that the atmosphere in the national team should attract players. I personally have always returned. They told me "come help" and I came. That's how I felt it. Now I notice that among the young ones there is a strong sense of national pride, national responsibility, participation in the national team is goal number 1. This is true up to U20. Among men and women, this is already changing, even ceasing to exist as a goal. They have different ambitions, expectations," the new coach added.

"We can improve the national team's game in many elements. For the team to be competitive, I would like the more experienced players to return. We must have intellect, experience, and motivation. Then we can be competitive, not against everyone, but against most. Because the average height of the top four teams at the Olympics is 187 cm, and I believe this is very important in women's volleyball. Because if Elitsa plays for us, then we can oppose teams with opposite hitters, like Egonu, Vargas. It is based on experience. I am not a fan of indiscriminately putting young girls on the team, as was the case with Michelli (editor's note - the previous coach of the national team). Because the young ones become the majority and the team becomes unprofitable as a result. Every year matters to us. We will evaluate year by year, we cannot think 4 years ahead. There is the Nations League, World Championship, then Nations League again, European Championship. The ranking is the most important thing right now. It is important to have a strong team spirit, an idea, for the players to feel valued. Let's not skip stages. I believe that the older a player is, the less they should rest, because afterwards they cannot regain their level," Antonina Zetova added.

She added that she would probably gather the national team for the first time at the end of April or the beginning of May next year, with the first phase of the Nations League scheduled for June 4-8. For women, there will be three phases, and the countries where they will be held are not yet known, but they will be outside Europe.

photos: Nikolay Varadinov