02/07/2020 16:00
Bulgarian Volleyball legends welcome return of Scout League
News from the National Federations
Sofia, Bulgaria, July 2, 2020. In front of a number of legends and with a lot of media interest, the recently elected President of the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation, Lubomir Ganev, signed the contract for the organisation of the third edition of the Scout League. Again, partners will be Alexander Alexandrov and the foundation “Play with Razvitie”.
Vladimir Nikolov, Plamen Konstantinov, Evgeni Ivanov, Mila Kyoseva and Antonina Zetova attended the ceremony held at Press Club Bulgaria, and a good share of these stars could boast a connection with the first two editions of the Scout League. Georgi Tatarov, a youth national player of Bulgaria, took part in the ceremony as well, after competing himself in the second edition of the league.
“Georgi is the best example that the Scout League produces results,” said Ganev. “It is a proof that this project works. The Scout League is the best social initiative, which the federation has produced. It has taken place thanks to the foundation “Play with Razvitie“. I am much obliged to note that Mr Alexandrov has helped us a lot and he will continue to do so. The new edition of the Scout League will be taking place next spring and will include three stages. Twelve teams will be taking part in the final stage of the competition – the top two in each of the groups from the main round held in each Bulgarian region. Our aim is to have matches in different towns and to arise interest. As many as 672 children and 48 coaches will participate in the league, with each team comprising of 14 players and obviously a coach.”
“We continue to look for partners, as we still have to select the host cities,” Ganev added. “The municipalities will play a big role as well. We need to choose those offering the best conditions for trainings, matches and hotel accommodation. Each kid will play with a kit displaying the brand of the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation and the “Play with Razvitie” foundation. The matches from the final tournament will be recorded and broadcasted on the YouTube Channel of the federation. Thus, the participants will be able to invite their friends and to show them their skills. In the end, I would like to add that Mr Alexandrov is a real sports patron, and the contract is a key one for the federation. Our aim is to make Volleyball a more attractive product for the fans, for the media and for the partners. This cause, as well as all the other tasks have been part of our daily tasks even during the pandemic.”
BVF President Lubomir Ganev and Mr Alexandrov at the signing ceremony re-establishing the pan-Bulgarian Scout League
“I wanted right after the second edition of the league to make a third, fourth and fifth one,” added Alexander Alexandrov, “but we could not agree with the old management. I had spoken with Lubo Ganev and checked everything but until the change [at the top pf the Federation] happened, the Scout League could not take place. The Scout League was part of the platform of Mr Ganev. This made me really happy. I have had many projects in all sports, even in water polo, in spite of the limited number of pools, but what happened with the Scout League was something extraordinary. I think we have involved some 200 kids and coaches until now. Now my dream will come true with signing the contract. I am happy that the media cover the event as well. These are our kids and our future. Georgi Tatarov is a proof of that. He is already a national player, a European vice-champion and a champion of Bulgaria. He is a big and confident man and in the Scout League, there are other such examples as well. Let us hope that the new boys will develop themselves. The Scout League eventually produces national players for Bulgaria.”
“I took part in the first Scout League for girls,” said Zetova. “This project is among the best ones in Bulgaria. Firstly, it gathers children from all over the country, delivering matches and a sense of community. We as coaches can see which children are better than the others. I hope the league can turn into an international project and we will be able to check where we are in youth development compared to other countries. As a mother, I am happy that my son will be able to play. I am sure that the Scout League will be an incredible success.”
The Scout League is expected to help grow the next generation of Bulgarian elite Volleyball players
“I took part in the first league as a coach as well,” continued Mila Kyoseva. “The experience that these children gather at such an early age is of a great importance for the development of their sports career. In Bulgaria, there are not so many matches for their age groups. Therefore, the league will have a very positive influence. With the help of this project, we will convince the kids to continue their career and to repeat our past victories.”
“Under the patronage of Mr Alexandrov, we did a great work in organising the Scout League,” said Vladimir Nikolov, responsible for all national teams. “The league was a like a holiday. It is good that it will resume and last for four months. It is a wonderful project, which previously ended with the international gala held in Burgas as the culmination. Four years ago, we started this initiative with much success, and now, with a lot of hard work I hope that we will be able to surpass our previous achievements.”
After competing in the Scout League, Georgi Tatarov achieved much success at the 2019 U17 European Championship with a silver medal and the award for the Best Opposite Hitter of the competition
“For me the Scout League was a great experience,” commented Georgi Tatarov, a silver medal winner at last year’s U17 European Championship. “I met a lot of boys and saw how they trained in the other teams. Not only I, but also the others had a chance to play more matches. It is something very important for the development of young players.”
“I would like to express my gratitude to Mr Alexandrov for supporting the Federation in delivering this project,” added Evgeni Ivanov, the Head of Youth Development in the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation. “The Scout League has been one of the best activities for the youth done by the federation. The children are not professionals and they need motivation; such events can sparkle it. More kids can reach the level of Georgi Tatarov. I hope that he and the others will have even greater achievements than ours. The next edition will gather the best youth teams in Bulgaria. Unfortunately, we cannot reach the numbers of the second edition, but with small steps, we will quicken the pace and will be able to run this project as we did before. I hope that all will be happy and more boys and girls will play Volleyball. The Scout League is a beautiful project, I do not know whether it will become an international one or not, but we are considering this idea. We are not an island in the sea and need to compare ourselves with the other countries and continents. There are ideas on the table and I hope they will see the light soon.”
“I wanted to take part as a way of respect towards the partners of the Scout League,” said Plamen Konstantinov. “We have been discussing this scheme since the first year when Mr Alexandrov started the financial assistance of this ambitious and big project. There was a time when women’s Volleyball would attract more attention than men’s Volleyball. However, with this project, we support boys and girls equally. It is very important that Mr Alexandrov is investing in this age group. The Scout League is the best thing for these children. Let the ideas become reality and throughout the years, we can broaden their scope more and more. Congratulations to the new management of the federation and its president Lubo Ganev who reacted very quickly and immediately re-established this excellent event.”
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