Budućnost Volleyball Aims for European Glory Against Maribor

Budućnost Volleyball is set to make a significant return to the European stage as they face Slovenia’s Maribor in the first round of the CEV Challenge Cup. The matches will take place on October 11 and 12, 2023, at the “Verde” hall in Podgorica, starting at 18:00 each day.

Dejan Radić, the head coach of Budućnost, expressed his aspirations for the team, stating, “When I became the coach of Budućnost, one of my goals was to bring the team back to Europe. I believe that without European competition, it is harder to develop and make progress.” Radić, who played for Budućnost from 2006 to 2009, understands the importance of European matches for showcasing the club’s commitment to high-level competition.

The team heads into the match against Maribor in high spirits, having secured a convincing victory over the same opponent just last week in the MEVZA League, winning 3-0. In addition to that match, Budućnost faced mixed results at a tournament in Budva, where they lost a close game to Hungary’s MAV Elore with a score of 3-2, despite leading 2-0 and having two match points. They also triumphed against Budva, winning 3-1, and currently sit at the top of the MEVZA League standings.

Radić noted, “These matches come after the MEVZA tournament, where we delivered strong performances. As a coach, I am pleased with our results, and they indicate we presented our best game at that tournament. Our next opponent is Maribor, and we have shown we can compete with them.” He emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum, particularly since Maribor will be bringing back a key player, a Cuban international, who missed the previous encounter.

“We are ready both physically and mentally, and I hope that the team will continue to perform well. I am optimistic that we can replicate the game from last week,” Radić added.

The winner of this two-match series will advance to the next round to face Czestochowa, a team that currently ranks fourth in the Polish PlusLiga, one of Europe’s strongest leagues. This potential matchup highlights the stakes involved as Budućnost aims to re-establish itself on the European volleyball scene.

With anticipation building for the upcoming matches, both the team and its supporters are eager to see how Budućnost will fare against their Slovenian rivals in this critical chapter of their European journey.