Almost 900 young players are due to contest the seventh edition of the EKO Mini Volleyball League run by the Volleyball Federation of Montenegro (OSCG). The start of this seventh campaign for youngsters from across the Balkan country was attended not only by representatives of the Volleyball Federation of Montenegro but also by national hero, 2000 Olympic gold medallist Igor Vušurović, national team players Viktoria Đukić and Danilo Dubak, as well as officials from the Ministry of Sports of Montenegro, and the company Jugopetrol.
The seventh edition of the EKO Mini Volleyball League, which is organised in conjunction with the CEV School Project ‘Play Volleyball – Grow with it’, has already broken all records in terms of mass participation. The season started on Sunday, October 22, with participation of as many as 873 children and 73 teams representing 18 volleyball clubs from all over Montenegro!
The league, which is open to children aged nine to 13, is run with the precious sponsorship from Jugopetrol AD and support from the European Volleyball Confederation, the Ministry of Sports and Youth of Montenegro, the Montenegrin National Olympic Committee, and the Capital City of Podgorica. The project’s primary goal is to promote and popularise Volleyball in Montenegro with a focus on the young generations.
The Volleyball Federation of Montenegro covers all the costs resulting from the delivery of the matches and has also donated balls and jerseys to all the participants.
Mr Nikola Kažić, Director of the national teams of the Volleyball Federation of Montenegro, handed over the balls to the teams of Mediteran, Barbane, and Ivangrad 2011. Mrs Sara Ivanović Božović, Marketing Manager of Jugopetrol AD, presented balls to the clubs Tempo, Akademija, Albatros, and Mrkojevići. Moreover, Igor Vušurović, winner of an Olympic gold medal at Sydney 2000 with the former Yugoslavia and now Secretary General of the Montenegrin Olympic Committee, presented balls to the teams of Morača and Net.
A representative of the Ministry of Sports and Youth, Ms Ana Milačić, handed over balls to Lovćen and Libero from Cetinje. Viktorija Đukić, the setter of the Montenegrin women’s senior national team, did just the same with the recipients being the teams of Gimnazijalac, Herceg Novi, and Gorštak. Finally, Danilo Dubak, who plays as a setter for the men’s senior national team, presented balls to Mornar, Nikšić, Top Volley, and Budućnost Volley.
The Volleyball Federation of Montenegro will provide medals for all participants at the closing event, which is planned for May 2024, because when playing Volleyball, everyone is a winner!