Let's go and win, is the message from the coach of the Montenegrin women's pioneer volleyball team, Petar Koković, on the eve of the team's historic qualification for the European Championship.
His team became our first team in the women's competition to advance to the finals of the continental championship - the girls did it in a spectacular manner, in grand style, as the only team in the qualifiers to win all three matches with the maximum score.
At the European Championship, which will be held from July 2 to 13 in Tirana and Pristina, Montenegro, in addition to host Kosovo, will face the national teams of Turkey, Croatia, Hungary, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Greece.
Koković is pleased with the draw.
"The competition system with two groups of eight teams is such that it is difficult to avoid the strongest teams. We beat Turkey, in the second group are Italy and Poland, so from that point of view we can be satisfied with the draw. We can handle all the other teams," Koković told Odbojka.me
Montenegro recently met one team in Maribor in the second round of qualifying, which they will face in the finals – the tournament hosts, Slovenia.
Our team's 3:0 victory speaks volumes about the ambition and confidence with which Koković's players are approaching the upcoming Euro Volleyball.
"The victory over Slovenia in Maribor, on the away field in front of a full house, with a maximum score, is the best match of this generation and an indicator of how valuable the girls are. Even before the draw, I said that the match against Slovenia is a real benchmark for us, because teams of such a rating await us at the European Championship. It turned out that we got Slovenia among them again," adds Koković.
When, in early January, after great success and reaching the second round of the European Championship qualifiers, he summed up his impressions from the tournament in Sofia, Koković said: We have pearls and we don't want to stop!
He is repeating the exact same message now, with the difference that his team has taken it a step further – they dominated the second round of qualifying, and the European Championship is coming up.
"What we knew was confirmed - that this is truly a brilliant generation. Everything the girls did was deserved - all 16 of them, including two who, unfortunately, had to drop out after the preparations. And what makes me most happy is that during the slightly weaker moments, and there were some, as in every match, every tournament, the strength and character of the team, of the entire collective, came to the fore. The girls, working together, were able to rise and overcome all obstacles, which is definitely the greatest value of this team."
Montenegro defeated Slovakia and Romania in Maribor (of course – 3:0 each) and secured a place in the European Championship before the toughest match against Slovenia, which they also won 3:0.
"When we found out the names of our rivals, we knew that the first match with Slovakia could be decisive – like a final. We also knew that we could win, provided we prepared well. That triumph opened all the doors for us, because we knew that we were better than Romania. We had finished all the work before the match with Slovenia, which is a very serious team, which played at home, and I am especially glad that in that match we confirmed everything we have done since this generation first came together."
The most deserving are the dancers, and Koković also lists his collaborators.
"My entire coaching staff with first assistant Nikola Radomirović, psychologist Andrea Laković, fitness coach Jovan Ristić and scout Ognjen Marković. Big thanks also to the national team's A coach Jovo Caković, who was at every training session during the preparations in Stara Pazova, who traveled with us to Maribor and his help was enormous. Of course, thanks also to the Volleyball Federation, which once again enabled us to have top-notch preparations, what we had in Stara Pazova is available to the best teams, the best athletes," says Koković.
His girls will strive to justify expectations and trust at the European Championship, to achieve the ambitions they have imposed on themselves with great results.
Koković returns to the message from the beginning of the text:
“We are going to Pristina to continue winning.”
Bonus video:
