On Saturday, June 3, in a fantastic atmosphere both in the stands as well as on the court equipped with Gerflor flooring, the sixth season of the EKO Mini Volleyball league – the largest youth Volleyball competition in Montenegro – ended at Verde sports complex in Podgorica. The league is organised in conjunction with the CEV School Project ‘Play Volleyball – Grow with it’, with the Volleyball Federation of Montenegro among the many national organisations that have joined the CEV-run programme.
This year’s EKO Mini Volleyball league has broken all previous records. In the sixth season, 419 matches were played over 13 weekends, with the participation of 826 children and a remarkable 68 teams from 19 volleyball clubs from all over Montenegro.
The project designed for children aged 9 to 13 is run by the Volleyball Federation of Montenegro, sponsored by Jugopetrol AD company, and supported by the European Volleyball Confederation (CEV), the Ministry of Sports and Youth, the Montenegrin Olympic Committee, and the Capital City of Podgorica. The goal of the project is to promote and popularise Volleyball in Montenegro.
After the matches played by the youngest participants, who had the opportunity to experience the joy of performing on a special volleyball surface for the first time thanks to the work done by the Volleyball Federation of Montenegro, a medal ceremony followed.
Cvetko Pajković, the President of the Volleyball Federation of Montenegro, presented medals to the teams Gimnazijalac and Neta. Vassilis Makris, the Director of Retail at Jugopetrol, presented medals to the teams Libero from Petrovac and Gorštak.
Tatjana Bokan, the long-time captain of the Montenegrin women’s national team and a double champion in the Montenegrin domestic competitions with the team of OK HERCEG NOVI, awarded medals to the teams Barbana and Ivangrad 2011. Nikoleta Perović, a volleyball player from the Italian team Consolini and the Montenegrin national team, presented medals to the teams from Nikšić and Libero from Cetinje. Milorad Krunić, the head coach of the Montenegrin women’s national team, awarded medals to the teams Mrkojevići, Galeb Liko Soho Group, and Budva.
Melisa Cenović, the current captain of the Montenegrin women’s senior national team, presented medals to the teams Albatros and Budućnost Volley. Katarina Budrak, a member of the national team as well, awarded medals to the teams Morača, Lovćen, and Tempo. Dijana Vuković, the opposite of the Montenegrin women’s national team, presented medals to the teams Akademija and Mediteran.