In the premises of the Volleyball Association of Montenegro, awards were presented today to the best and most promising volleyball players, as well as the best coaches in the domestic championship for 2021. According to the Rulebook on the criteria and method of selecting the best and most promising players, volleyball clubs, national team selectors and the coaching committee made proposals, and after that the volleyball clubs voted.
The best volleyball player in the domestic championship was Blažo Milić (Budva), the best abroad was Bojan Strugar (Nefels, Switzerland), the most promising was Vukašin Cimbaljević (Vojvodina, Serbia), while the best coach in the domestic championship was Miloš Marković (Budva).
Marija Bojić (Galeb) was chosen as the best volleyball player in the domestic championship for 2021, the best volleyball player abroad is Nikoleta Perović (Kolejlijer, Turkey), the most promising is Majda Čakar (Rudar), and the best coach in the domestic championship for women volleyball players is Vladimir Milačić (Luka Bar).
"It's always nice to get together at the end of the year, because it's an occasion for celebrations like this one, but also an opportunity to summarize the events that marked the end of the year. Although the planet was going through one of the most difficult years in history, caused by the Covid-19 virus pandemic, and regardless of the fact that it drastically made life and playing sports in our country more difficult, I can say that the volleyball year 2021 in Montenegro was extremely exciting and substantive. Despite a lot of problems, we managed to successfully end all competitions for the last season in both competitions, to hand out cups to the best in the Championship and the Cup, and to bring this year's half-season to an end. Those competitions "launched" some of our young men and women into the European orbit, they became members of representative selections and renowned clubs from around and Europe", said the president of the Volleyball Association of Montenegro (OSCG), Cvetko Pajković.
He is particularly proud of the second consecutive performance of the men's senior national team at the European Championship, won through brilliant games and first place in the qualifying group.
"Such a result and placement at the European Championships in the Czech Republic are indicators that we can rightly expect that our volleyball players will continuously appear in major competitions, and that Montenegro will be recognized in the world as a country of volleyball. It seems to me that volleyball players have never been closer placing at the European Championship, I am convinced that the only thing missing was the help of the audience at the tournament in Podgorica, when the presence of spectators was not allowed due to the situation with the corona virus. I would have a lot more to list, but I just want to congratulate the awardees have received. I am glad that the clubs had a very difficult task to choose the best, which only shows that some new aces are arriving. I hope that it will be an incentive for the winners of the award to work even harder, and for everyone else a motive to follow their path and to some of them will find themselves in their place within a year. Once again, I congratulate the awardees, and I wish volleyball and sports fans in general, and all the citizens of Montenegro, happy New Year's holidays," said Pajković.
Our representative middle blocker Blažo Milić, who won the championship and the Cup with Budva, was chosen as the best player in the domestic championship for the second time in a row.
"It is a great pleasure to receive this award again. I want to thank my club Budva, the Volleyball Association and all the people and coaches who voted for me," said Milić.
Due to his obligations at the club, Bojan Strugar was given the award earlier by the president of the Serbian Football Association, Cvetko Pajković. In the previous season, Strugar won the Swiss Cup and the title of MVP of the championship with the Jona team, he was also the best scorer in the league part of the championship, while this season in Switzerland he recorded excellent performances in Nafels.
“I would like to thank everyone who voted for me. I hope to live up to expectations. Considering that sport has been a way of life for me since I was a child, this is a huge satisfaction for me and I hope that in the future I will continue to achieve more and be the best in what I do," said Strugar.
Vukašin Cimbaljević was chosen as the most promising volleyball player in 2020 as well, and the recognition for 2021 was received on his behalf by his family, considering his obligations in Vojvodina.
The double crown on the domestic scene brought recognition for the best coach to Miloš Marković, the Budva strategist.
"Individual awards in team sports are always a product of teamwork. That's how it was this time too, and I would like to take the opportunity to thank my colleagues in the coaching staff, of course the players who in the calendar year contributed to the success for which I was awarded today, and the people from the club's management who somehow recognized this and gave me the opportunity to try my hand at to this job," Marković pointed out.
The clubs decided that the award for the best volleyball player in Montenegro should go to Marija Bojić, who won the Montenegrin Cup with Galeb.
"This award means a lot to me and will motivate me for further effort and work. I would like to thank my coaches and teammates, as well as all the clubs and coaches who voted for me," said Marija Bojić.
Nikoleta Perović, volleyball player from Turkish Kolejlijer, was chosen as our best player abroad. One of our best national team players could not attend the award presentation due to club commitments, so her family accepted the award.
Majda Čakar, a volleyball player from Rudara from Pljevlje, was chosen as the most promising volleyball player of Montenegro.
"I would like to thank the people from the Volleyball Association who gave me this honor, it is a great honor to receive such an award and this is a great wind at my back for further work and effort," said Majda Čakar.
The "on-duty" champion of Montenegro is Luka Bar, and its skipper Vladimir Milačić is most deserving of this, as he was awarded the award for the best coach in the domestic women's volleyball championship.
"I thank the OSCG for the award. I would like to take the opportunity to thank my team, the girls and the management of Luka Bar, who have been helping our club for years. I also congratulate all the graduates who received the award this year", said Milačić.
The president of the OSCG Assembly Zoran Vukčević, OSCG General Secretary Ivan Bošković and our golden Olympian Igor Vušurović presented the awards to the best.
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