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LokoVolley Youth Championships 2015: Russia - Bulgaria

Wilfredo_is_Marshall 2015-01-22 • 2773 views • 5
 
The final round of an international tournament open to U16 teams was held last Sunday, January 18, at the Druzhba sports hall in Moscow, which is part of the Luzhniki Olympic Complex. The fifth anniversary of the tournament was then celebrated with a special event organised in Moscow where participation was extended to the U17 national teams of Bulgaria, Belarus and Serbia. Asia was also represented by a team from Kazakhstan as well as by squads from the Far East cities of Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk and Khabarovsk. Even though the ‘Lokovolley’ tournament is still young, it has already reached heights that one could hardly imagine only a couple of years ago. The participants were provided with ideal conditions to perform well and they also joined an extensive cultural programme which included a visit to the Kremlin and the Red Square. The final eventually opposed the teams from Bulgaria and Lokomotiv Novosibirsk. Bulgaria lined up their U17 national team, whilst Lokomotiv’s players were from the classes of 1998 and 1999. At this age, such a difference may be crucial and it turned out to be an advantage for the guests from Bulgaria who comfortably claimed the first set by 25-20, hitting the ball much harder than the young ‘Loko’ boys. However, things changed dramatically in the second set where the Russian guys showed their fighting spirit and almost left no chance to their opponents. Only after the teams had moved back to the locker rooms, it became known that Bulgaria’s team had handed over the trophy to their opponents from Novosibirsk, in a remarkable act of fair play and sportsmanship. “This trophy belongs to the strongest team from the 1998-1999 age group, and since my boys are one year older, the team from Novosibirsk deserves it,” explained Bulgaria’s head coach Dragan Ivanov. Mr Ivanov therefore presented the cup to the team captain of Lokomotiv, Konstantin Abaev (see picture above). Only two days before the start of the competition the Bulgarian mentor had said to the media: “I just hope that all players participating in this tournament will become good friends and that their friendship will then last for a long time.” His act of fair play literally epitomises the statement he had given shortly before actions got started in Moscow. The 2015 edition came to an end after six months of preparations, kilowatts of light and sound, tons of decorations and a full house that followed the finals preceded by a light show, a 3D video projected on the court and performances of the best dance groups from Moscow and Novosibirsk. The fans who could not make it to the venue were able to follow a live broadcast of the tournament on the Internet which attracted as many as 27,500 viewers.

#Bulgaria #LokomotivNovosibirsk #Russia #LokoVolleyYouthChampionships2015

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raylightBG 3006 15
9 years ago
-1
Bulgarians deserved the cup, they won all matches on this tournament. Giving back the trophey is dishonoring the country and them and the coach is spineless idiot and traitor for this act. I wonder how he didn't sert the flag on fire just to prove how much more important is Russia than Bulgaria for him.
Wilfredo_is_MarshallRSAuthor 4186 20
9 years ago
0
@raylight: “This trophy belongs to the strongest team from the 1998-1999 age group, and since my boys are one year older, the team from Novosibirsk deserves it,” explained Bulgaria’s head coach Dragan Ivanov.

Its called sportsmanship, or in other words something something you (Raylights) dont have!

Anyways the kids also get to keep their medals and the best players get to keep their iPads, so its not that bad.
Wilfredo_is_MarshallRSAuthor 4186 20
9 years ago
-1
It is nice that Bulgarians returned the trophy to the Russians. The Russians really deserved it.
raylightBG 3006 15
9 years ago
-1
@Wilfredo_is_Marshall:

Sorry for replaying here, I couldn't see the button to reply on your reply. Bulgarian youth NT represents Bulgaria. The trophey is not personally theirs to give it. It is just like an official present to the prime minister from another prime minister, and the guy decides to take it for him. That's the wrong part. If it so sportsmanship, why not we go to Rio, win the final vs Brazil /because Brazil is always on final/ and give them back the trophey. Wouldn't this be perfectly marvelous?

About my sportsmanship - when I played basketball and football in school /and american football in the sports academy/ I never did anything outside the rules, 0 fauls. My teammates even argued with me why I don't to such stuff. I consider myself fair player. I don't injure other players even when I am 2 ot 3 times stronge physically then them, I didn't do it in the past. But if I am in a national team and someone asks me to return the medal, I would make him eat it.
Wilfredo_is_MarshallRSAuthor 4186 20
9 years ago
0
@raylight: ok ok but you have to understand that they were two different age group. Bulgarians were 17 yr. old, while Russians were younger 15 yr old and 16 yr old.

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