Slovakia's players are hoping to have plenty to celebrate this season
Lausanne, Switzerland, May 5, 2017 – Slovakia have begun their preparations for what will be a busy summer that includes the FIVB Volleyball World League at the Sports and Training Centre in Puchov.
Coach Miroslav Palgut has already begun work with a squad of 12 players, with Juraj Zatko, Matej Kubs, Matej Patak, Branislav Skladany set to join up once their league commitments are finished later in the week.
Emanuel Kohut will captain the side and there is a welcome return for libero Frantisek Ogurcak, who is back in the squad following shoulder surgery.
“It was a great to meet up and see the guys again,” Ogurcak said. “I worked hard, but it is not the same as training with the national team. I have not played volleyball for one year, but I am determined to get back to my best.”
Slovakia will compete in the Italy-Bulgaria 2018 FIVB Volleyball World Championship European Qualifiers from May 23-28. They will face hosts the Netherlands, Austria, Moldova, Greece and Luxembourg and should they progress they will compete in the final qualifying round that takes place from July 11-16.
Slovakia begin their World League campaign at home in Poprad where they face Japan, Australia and Portugal over June 2-4. The next weekend they travel to Finland where they face the hosts, Australia and China. The finish the pool stage in The Hague with matches against the Netherlands, Korea and Czech Republic.
To round off a busy summer they will then head to Poland for the CEV European Championship, which runs from August 24 - September 3.
“We can see what shape our team is after the first couple of training sessions,” Kohut said. “We play against weaker opponents at the start of the tournament in Holland, but volleyball is not played on paper.
“We are more experienced than some teams, but on the other hand our team has become younger due to younger players coming into the squad. We have to start each match with our minds clean, give our all, and I believe we can succeed.”