In early April, legendary Italian duo Dante Bonifande and Samuel Papi joined the national team’s technical staff, joining the side of the men’s national volleyball team alongside Giorgos Stefanou, Kostas Christofidelis and GM Mario Giurdas.

After hard preparation, the Mediterranean Games and a series of friendlies on Greek soil against Tunisia and Belgium, the national team face their biggest challenge yet, qualifying for the Euro 2023.

Before leaving for the qualifiers, the national team opened the doors of their training sessions Sportishwhere the atmosphere is pleasant and familiar and the players agree to the challenge they have to face.

Qualification will be decided in Norway, where Greece will take on Croatia, Cyprus and the host country to chase first place in the group that sends them straight to EuroVolley.

The main characteristic of this national team is the many new faces and the thirst for distinction and enthusiasm. A “renewed” national team, as it excelled, together with some experienced players and a technical staff of many… titles, wants to turn the tide and build something stable in international competitions.

The team’s general manager, Marios Giurdas, counts 336 appearances with the national emblem. Now he has left the ball, but remains a “soldier” of the national team from a different position. The clear goal is qualification and a national team that produces health and stability.

“We used the Mediterranean Games to give the newcomers time and see what level we are at. We always expect the best, so we all do our best. At the moment we represent Greece here and we want to do as well as possible.

We cannot give the national team a timetable. The most important thing in the whole effort is having the material that’s there. We have children who can join the national team in the future, it gives us strength to believe in the efforts that are being made. The team has had a difficult time in recent years and now we are trying to repair the previous “damage”. Our clear goal is to qualify for the European Championship“.

Bonifande and Papi fit the philosophy of Ethniki

Of course, it was impossible to mention the presence of great personalities of European volleyball, who are now working with the aim of “reviving” the national team. “It is extremely important that we have such personalities. You have appetite, experience and attitude. They fit the philosophy of the national team, but in the end we are judged by the result. Especially this year qualifying is a one-way street and we definitely want to achieve that. We will motivate athletes to prepare better.

We do not address the inexperience of some children. We do not care. We have to win. Nobody signed a contract with the win but if we don’t qualify it will cost us something. We have to rely on what we can achieve. I won’t go into age, whatever we achieve we achieve as a team. Especially the new kids will gain a lot of experience and appearances at big events“.

The word weight comes early to an athlete’s feet

For the first time in several years, the national team will get two new guys who will bear the burden of the critical position of the passer. Stavros Kasampalis (recently signed for Athlos Orestiadas) and Markos Galiotos (playing for Foinikas Syros) will be the passing duo who will organize the national team’s game. The strain is there, especially in the national team, but the enthusiasm and thirst for qualification are overshadowed.

“The word weight comes to an athlete’s feet from a very early age. The bet in sports is its management. I find that with the right preparation and willpower, any weight tastes sweeter. Volleyball is a team sport, so always have your teammates come and lift some of your weight, and of course we’re talking about a successful team. Success is not just a medal or a trophy. He has some other procedures before these come“, said Stavros Kasampalis.

Galiotos: “We are called upon to quickly follow in the footsteps of our predecessors”

“It’s something that should have started progressively earlier. We are called upon to quickly follow in the footsteps of our predecessors.”added Markos Galiotos.

The national team’s friendlies were a first rehearsal for internationals, an opportunity for the team to band together to look fitter for qualifying. “The truth is that we tried very hard in the friendlies but we didn’t get the results we wanted. It was the first tests. After all, the Greek always shows his best and his greatest enthusiasm when the going gets tough.

We have a younger team than in other years, so we have a lot of energy and enthusiasm to give. With the right preparation we can beat good opponents.”commented Kasampalis.

“In the friendlies we just wanted to find better cooperation between us and learn from each other on the pitch. I know we’ll do everything we can to qualify and lead the group. Both are possible‘ said Galiotos at first.

“The mix of the team initially didn’t bond as well as we would have liked because the time we were together wasn’t long. Day by day we got better and learned to work together the way the national team demands. We are ready.

For the first time I see several young children who have talent and with the work of the coaching staff they will develop into very good players who will be useful for the national team“.

Who would win a possible “double” between the active players and the great volleyball players of the past of the national team, Kasampalis had only one request:

“The presence of big names in our technical staff is something special, they support us with every possible help. I don’t know who would win but I would definitely put Papi on my team to put the ball right in my hands so I can pass where I want and make a play“.

The schedule of matches of the national team

1st match day (08/03/2022)

• Croatia Cyprus
• Norway Greece

2nd match day (08.06.2022)

• Greece-Croatia
• Cyprus Norway

Matchday 3 (08.10.2022)

• Greece Cyprus
• Croatia Norway

4th match day (13.-14.8.2022)

• Cyprus Greece
• Norway-Croatia

5th matchday (17.8.2022)

• Croatia Greece
• Norway Cyprus

6th matchday (20.8.2022)

• Greece Norway
• Cyprus-Croatia

*The national team’s home games are played in the DAK Glyfada.