Hold onto your hats, folks! The Montenegro men’s senior volleyball team has finally kicked off preparations for the next round of the European Championship qualifiers. After a disastrous first round where they lost both matches – 3-0 to Norway and 3-1 to the Czech Republic – coach Ivica Jevtić has decided it’s time for a shake-up. And by shake-up, we mean giving the young guns a shot to gain some much-needed experience!
Picture this: 13 players gathered in the stunning mountain town of Kolašin, starting their training camp. Among them are two fresh faces, Milutin Pavićević and Vukašin Cimbaljević, the latter returning from injury. But wait, not all is rosy – some regular players didn’t answer the call to the national team, and the coach hinted he’ll talk about that drama some other time. Sounds like there’s some backstage tension brewing!
This summer, Montenegro faces a tough challenge: an away game against the Czech Republic on August 13, followed by a home match against Norway four days later. The goal? To be physically and technically sharper than in the first round and to actually put in a decent performance. But honestly, is that enough to punch their ticket to the European Championship?
Coach Jevtić stresses this is a golden opportunity for young players to gain the crucial experience that will serve them for years to come. Among these hopefuls are Luka Lojić, Vuk Stanojević, and Vukota Čelebić, fresh off their U19 Balkan Championship appearances.
The coaching staff looks solid, with assistants Miljan Bošković and Stefan Laković, conditioning coach Mirko Eraković, physiotherapist Vladimir Dragojević, and statistician Luka Ratković. But will that be enough to raise the team’s game?
All in all, the state of Montenegrin volleyball isn’t exactly sparkling. The first round of qualifiers showed there’s a mountain of work ahead. But hey, at least something’s happening! If you thought volleyball in Montenegro was dead, think again. The team is here, the young players are here, and we’ll be watching closely to see if anything changes or if we’re stuck with the same old stories of missed chances and wasted talent.
So, what do you think? Who’s your pick to make it to the European Championship? Do you believe in this young squad, or is it time for a total overhaul? Drop a comment and let’s see who’s in and who’s out! And remember, volleyball isn’t just a game – it’s a fight, a passion, and a hope for the future of Montenegrin sports!
