Bulgaria’s captain Tsvetan Sokolov denied any truth to the rumours that he was about to announce his retirement from the national team ahead of the 2022 season.
Sokolov brushes off retirement rumours
Dinamo Moscow’s Bulgarian star vows to continue playing for the national team
Published 11:15, 19 Jan 2022
“No, I am not thinking of giving up the national team jersey and right now that’s not on the agenda at all,” the 32-year-old opposite of Russian powerhouse Dinamo Moscow told the Bulgarian National Television. “I have commitments with Dinamo now. I will focus on the national team when we get closer to the summer, but at the moment I have no such thoughts.
“I have not discussed my future in the national team with anyone in the federation. If I am called to the national team, I will accept. I just hope we are all in good health, because nobody knows what will happen in the future.”
Bulgaria is set to take part in two major competitions this year, the 2022 FIVB Volleyball Nations League and the FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship Russia 2022. The national federation is about to make a decision on whether to extend the agreement with Italian head coach Silvano Prandi or pass the torch on to his first assistant, Bulgarian legend Nikolay Jeliazkov.
Sokolov’s club side Dinamo are still unbeaten on top of Pool B halfway through the CEV Champions League Volley pool stage. Domestically, they stand third in the Superliga on an 11-2 win-loss record, with the 2.06m-tall Bulgarian star ranking third among the top scorers of the league on a total of 229 points.
