Marco Bonitta takes on Slovenian challenge

The Volleyball Federation of Slovenia has announced renowned Italian volleyball expert Marco Bonitta as the new head coach of the Slovenian women's team ahead of the 2022 Silver European League and 2023 EuroVolley qualifiers.

Bonitta, who signed a two-year contract, is already looking forward to the new challenge. "For me, working with the Slovenian national team is a great motivation. This is one of the two reasons why I decided to accept the offer. The other is that when President Ropret invited me to be a part of this project, I immediately felt a positive attitude. I could sense the passion in his words, but also the clear ambition to make the Slovenian women's team as close as possible to the successes of the men's team. I am also very proud that the Volleyball Federation of Slovenia remembered me and invited me to join them on this journey. This journey may be long, it may be short, but I instantly knew that I wanted to be part of this project."

The Slovenian women's national team has so far competed twice at the European Championships, they have twice been very close to qualifying for the Golden European League, but now it's time to move further. The new head coach, who will lead Slovenia at the 2022 CEV Silver European League and the 2023 CEV EuroVolley qualifiers, said: "Both competitions are important for us, but the European Championship qualifiers will have more weight. Through the European League, we will try to understand what we need to work on more and better to achieve the important goal that we have set for August. Qualifying for the EuroVolley would bring us a double challenge - competing against the best European teams and trying to beat one of the best teams. In my opinion, Slovenia had a quite successful 2019 European Championships, but we can achieve more. I am confident of that."

The renowned 58 years-old Italian volleyball expert also revealed a part of the philosophy behind his way of working. "Volleyball has changed a lot through the years that I have been acting as a coach," he said. "Not only volleyball, but also everything around it. But one thing that is extremely important has remained the same - mutual trust and honesty. That we are doing things in a way that we said that we would be doing them. That when we decide together to do something, that we really do it together. That is always the first step of my coaching philosophy. The team needs to believe in itself. It needs to believe that I believe in the team and that I believe in myself. The Slovenian national team is a combination of players with experience, i.e., players who have already experienced a high national level, and a group of young and promising volleyball players. It's a good combination and I'm already looking forward to working with the Slovenian team. I am sure we will work well and enjoy it together."

Bonitta will gather the national team for the first time in April in Kranjska Gora.