Coming back home: Ukraine's Vladimir Orlov on the #EuroVolleyW special moments
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“Coming back home is wonderful,” Vladimir Orlov, head coach of Ukraine’s women’s national team said when asked by BVF how he was feeling being in Plovdiv, where he has spent various years, as a head coach of VC Maritza Plovdiv and head coach of the men’s Lokomotiv Plovdiv.
”Bulgaria and Plovdiv remind me of great emotions and I feel happy to be back here. I have lived in Bulgaria for 31 years, and for me, it is my homeland. I love this country. I love Bulgarian volleyball, I know its strength. And I always like it when they say, for example: 'A Bulgarian specialist took over the national team of Ukraine',” Orlov says.
Led by Orlov, Ukraine not only qualified for #EuroVolleyW 2021, but reached as well the elimination phase of the competition. On Sunday, his players locked horns with Poland in an eighth-finals battle, and although they lost at 1-3, they managed to keep the intrigue alive throughout the whole match.
Born in Crimea, in the former USSR, Vladimir is half Ukrainian. Having spent his childhood in Ukraine, Orlov moves to Bulgaria in 1990.
Vladimir Orlov“People around the world see me as a Bulgarian, I have spent more than the half of my life in this great country.”
Head coach of Ukraine
Orlov, whose coaching career started precisely in Bulgaria, in 2004, as a coach at the Smolyan Volleyball Club, has worked also for the Bulgarian national teams. First, he was a coach of the “Olympic hopes” team, and then, an assistant coach of the Women’s national team back in 2014, where he worked with the Russian specialist Vladimir Koziutkin (who had led Russia’s Women’s team to the 2010 World title).
In March 2021, Orlov took over the Ukrainian Women’s national team. He coached the team in the #EuroVolleyW Qualifier in May, where they finished second placed after Sweden in Pool B, and secured a spot at the Finals.
Vladimir Orlov“Ukrainian Volleyball has a long history - even as a republic of the Soviet Union, Ukraine has given very strong Volleyball players to the national team of the USSR. Ukraine is a country with serious Volleyball tradition, and the fact that in recent years the women's and men's Volleyball teams have been on a slightly lower position, does not mean that people do not understand this sport and do not love it”
Head coach of Ukraine
Reaching the eight-finals of #EuroVolleyW, Ukraine, together with other teams as Sweden, showed that the overall level of European Volleyball has risen and the sport across the continent is in a continous development.
“I wouldn’t say that the people in Ukraine are surprised by us reaching this stage. Of course, there is an overall positive feeling, because coming this far in the competition, means that there is a certain level of development in our team. What has been achieved is not bad, it can certainly be more,” Ukraine’s head coach says.
Vladimir OrlovThe strongest quality of our team is the team spirit. We do not have the stars, maybe with the exception of Olesia Rykhliuk, who has been competing in Turkey for many years and is at a very high level. There are also the experienced Nadiia Kodola, Bogdana Anisova, who play abroad, but we focus on the team work.
Head coach of Ukraine
Orlov reflected also on the big stars of #EuroVolleyW and the competition format with 24 participating teams.
"We all know who the stars of #EuroVolleyW are, but I would like to highlight the performance of one girl - Isabelle Haak. She is not only a star on the field, she is also a star in life. She is like a sun on the court and creates the right atmosphere and team spirit that make her team play even better."
Vladimir Orlov“I like the #EuroVolleyW format with 24 teams, it helps the sport grow. Also, it inspires many kids across the continent to take up on the sport. In general, from what I have seen so far at the competition, I can say that Volleyball is developing - you have to play to the maximum with each team. Each opponent can turn out to be tough, and if you relax, you can lose.”
Head coach of Ukraine
Orlov also expressed his happiness on having his team playing again in front of an audience.
“That's why the players live for! It feels good to be back!”
