The Montenegrin women's volleyball team traveled today to their first EuroVolley - the largest European volleyball tournament - and Teodora Čavić is one of the players who "brings together" generations.
The experienced ones, the senators, who are among the most deserving of the historical success of Montenegrin women's volleyball, and the youngest ones, on whom the future rests, and who will also get a chance - and because of whom our volleyball has great prospects.
That's why everyone believes that this is not just the first European Championship, but the first in a series...
"I think that this placement at EuroVolley is a foundation that we are laying for the next generations. There are a lot of young players who will have the opportunity to prove themselves on the biggest stage, but we also cannot exclude the sacrifice of previous generations from this process, because if it weren't for them, we wouldn't be here. So there is a good foundation. I believe that this will be just the beginning of a beautiful story," the 26-year-old receiver of the Buducnost service tells Meridiansport.
Small but proud, with the intention of selling its skin at a high price - that's how Montenegro travels to Gothenburg.
"We want to show that, although Montenegro is very small, it can compete with big national teams and deserves to be on the biggest stage," Teodora points out.
Preparing for tough clashes with hosts Sweden, Olympic and world champions Italy, as well as France, Slovakia and Croatia, Montenegro defeated Portugal three times and Austria twice during preparations in Kolašin.
These are teams that are also playing in the European Championship and have previously defeated our team.
This shows, I guess, that completely new winds are blowing in Jovo Caković's team.
"I think we can truly say that we have taken a big step forward in terms of our play and engagement. Progress is visible in every possible area. Last year, for example, in the Golden League we had the opportunity to play against Portugal and we lost. So these victories are pleasing, they show that the hard work we put in this and last summer has paid off. And that there is really a big improvement."
Montenegro is an outsider in Group B, but it is not without goals, it is not without dreams...
"We want our first appearance at the European Championship to be a good advertisement for the Montenegrin team, because we are a small country, and we are in a group with great powers that are much bigger and more numerous than us. We can say that the quality is on their side, but I also think that we can show that Montenegro has quality, that there are young players who are both eager and motivated and who can compete with bigger and better players. We will not retreat, we will not surrender to anyone in advance and it is definitely that we will try something and pull something out."
The premiere, on Friday, against the hosts Sweden, in front of 14 thousand spectators in the magnificent "Scandinavijum Arena" - it could hardly have been more difficult, but also more beautiful...
"The first games are always the hardest, and they are also a test of how well we have worked. I think our result will also be better as we approach the end of the group. The opening match against Sweden is impressive - it will be a great atmosphere, a full stadium, a country where people follow and invest heavily in sports. And of course - a strong opponent. Of course there will be tension and nervousness, but I think there is nothing without those things, so we should enjoy it and make the most of such an experience on the biggest possible stage," concludes Teodora Čavić.
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