Bulgaria Confirms 43 Players Taking Part of VNL and WC Preparation.

The Managing Board of the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation (BVF) approved a list of 43 athletes who have been called up to the national team for the upcoming summer. The reason for the large number is the fact that we will once again have A and B teams. Among those invited are also several young volleyball players, some of whom will be used in different competitions. Teodor Bogdanov will be the coach of the B team.

The preparation schedule takes into account the club commitments of the athletes. Everyone must be present by May 17th. The extended squad for the League of Nations consists of 25 players, and anyone can be included in it.

“The goal is for everyone to prepare, just like the men,” said President Lyubomir Ganev. “Everyone has been selected by the head coach Gianlorenzo Blengini and his staff. The important thing is for the young players to get used to the working methods and the training process in the men’s team. At this stage, there is no division between national team players from Group A and Group B. The men’s team and the U21 team will train in the new hall in Samokov. The U19 team will be in the old hall. When the players for the B team are determined, they will train both in Sofia and Samokov. This is likely how we will work until the Summer Olympic Games in 2028. In 2026, we will take stock of what we have achieved so far. If everything is according to plan, Blengini’s contract will automatically be extended. God grant that everyone is healthy and that this year the teams will bring us more success.”

“This year we have eight teams participating in major championships – six world and two European,” Ganev continued. “This shows the quality of our work, but also our responsibility towards the results.”

The Managing Board listened to Aleksandar Vinaliev, Chairman of the Refereeing Commission. “Our goal is to create well-prepared referees,” Ganev believes. “The number of matches is constantly increasing, and we need to have ready people.”

MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM – GROUPS A and B

Setters: Anton Stanchev – Lokomotiv Avia Dobromir Dimitrov – Neftochimic 2010 Lyuboslav Telkiyski – Beroe 2016 Rangel Vitekov – Hebar Simeon Nikolov – Long Beach State University (USA) Stoil Palev – Levski Sofia

Opposites: Dimitar Dimitrov – Montpellier (France) Venislav Antov – Levski Sofia Hristian Dimitrov – Polisportiva (Italy) Stoyan Dimitrov – Neftochimic 2010

Outside Hitters: Aleksandar Nikolov – Lube (Italy) Apostol Boyanov – Slavia Asparuh Asparuhov – Kuzbass (Russia) Vladimir Garkov – Levski Sofia Georgi Tatarov – Grottazzolina (Italy) Denislav Bardarov – Grottazzolina (Italy) Denis Karyagin – Fenerbahce (Turkey) Kaloyan Valchinov – Montana Kristiyan Aleksov – Lyulin Martin Atanasov – Galatasaray (Turkey) Rusi Zhelev – Beroe 2016 Svetoslav Ivanov – Hilasedici (Azerbaijan) Samuil Valchinov – Macerata (Italy) Teodor Kamenov – Lyulin Hristiyan Velikov – CSKA

Middle Blockers: Alex Grozdanov – Bogdanka (Poland) Boris Nachev – Cherno More BASK Ivaylo Damyanov – Lokomotiv Avia Iliya Petkov – Narbonne (France) Lazar Buchkov – Long Beach (USA) Kiril Kolev – Lokomotiv Avia Krasimir Georgiev – Neftochimic 2010 Preslav Petkov – Levski Sofia

Liberos: Martin Bozhilov – CSKA Damyan Kolev – Levski Sofia Kaloyan Botev – Levski Sofia

Players from the youth national teams who may also join the men’s team: Kristian Titriyski, Opposite – University of Hawaii (USA) Aleksandar Kandev, Outside Hitter – Long Beach State University (USA) Zhasmin Velichkov, Outside Hitter – Beroe 2016 Dimitar Dobrev, Libero – Levski Sofia Nikolay Nikolaev, Middle Blocker – Levski Sofia Tomislav Rusev, Middle Blocker – Lyulin Nikolay Ivanov, Outside Hitter – Dobrudzha 07