Budućnost Volleyball Aims for European Glory Against Maribor

Budućnost Volleyball is set to return to the European stage after a seven-year hiatus. The team will face Slovenian rivals Maribor on Wednesday and Thursday at the “Verde” hall in Podgorica, with both matches commencing at 18:00 local time. This encounter marks their first round in the Challenge Cup, following a difficult past against Romanian side Zalau.

Head coach Dejan Radić expressed his ambitions for the club since taking on the coaching role. “When I became the coach of Budućnost, one of my goals was for the team to return to Europe,” he stated. Radić emphasized the importance of European competitions for the club’s growth and visibility, saying, “I believe it is harder to work and progress without Europe. With European matches, the club shows everyone that we are here and want to compete at a high level.”

Budućnost enters the upcoming match against Maribor in high spirits and good form. The team recently defeated Maribor 3-0 in the same arena during the MEVZA League, showcasing their competitive edge. In a tournament held in Budva, Budućnost faced mixed results, falling to Hungarian side MAV Elore with a score of 3-2 despite leading 2-0 at one point, but they also secured a 3-1 victory against Budva. This performance places them at the top of the MEVZA League table.

Radić reflected on the recent MEVZA tournament, stating, “We played very well. As a coach, I can be satisfied with the results. The results indicate that we displayed our best game during that tournament, and we are currently first in the MEVZA League.”

As they prepare for the matches against Maribor, Radić remains cautious. “While we won that game, I believe this is a new competition, and their team will be stronger this time,” he noted. He pointed out that Maribor was missing a key player, a Cuban international, during their last encounter, which he expects will change the dynamics of the upcoming matches.

Budućnost is ready both physically and mentally, with Radić hoping for a repeat of their strong performance from last week. “I just want the team to keep working, and I hope we can replicate the game from last week,” he added.

The winner of this two-legged tie will advance to face Częstochowa, a team that currently holds fourth place in the Polish Plus Liga, one of the strongest leagues in Europe. The stakes are high as Budućnost aims to make a significant impact in European volleyball once again.