Heavy Rain Halts Montenegro Supercup Match; Rescheduled for Weekend

Heavy rain forced the suspension of the Supercup match between Budva and Buducnost on October 14, 2023. The match, held in Bar at the MTEL Hall Moraca, was interrupted due to water leaking from the roof, which created unsafe playing conditions. At the moment of the stoppage, Buducnost was leading 22-21 in the first set.

The incident occurred shortly after Budva scored their 21st point. Water began to drip onto the court from the ventilation area, prompting a temporary halt. In addition to the roof leak, there was a brief power outage that caused the arena lights to go out, but that issue was resolved quickly.

Despite attempts to address the leak, the rain continued to pour, worsening the situation. After approximately 50 minutes of deliberation, the officials, including the referees and match delegate, concluded that conditions were not suitable to continue the game. As a result, the match was postponed.

According to the Montenegrin Volleyball Federation (OSCG), the rescheduled match will start from a score of 0-0 and is expected to take place over the weekend, likely in Podgorica. The new venue will reportedly lack the mondoflex flooring and challenge system typically used.

Before the match was halted, Buducnost started strong, taking an early lead of 4-1. They maintained their advantage with a series of successful plays, leading 14-10 and later 19-14. However, the momentum shifted when Buducnost’s middle blocker, Srđan Petrović, suffered an injury after landing awkwardly during a play, which left the team without a key player.

Budva rallied in the latter part of the set, closing the gap with three consecutive points to make it 22-21 when the interruption occurred. The postponement has left fans eager for the rescheduled showdown, as both teams look to claim the prestigious title.

The challenges faced by Montenegro’s sports infrastructure have once again come to light, raising concerns about the adequacy of facilities for hosting significant events. As preparations continue for the rescheduled match, attention will be on ensuring that conditions are safe for both players and fans alike.