Montenegrin volleyball players possess the quality and potential to establish themselves prominently in Europe, stated coach Jovo Caković following their historic qualification for the European Championship.

After an 18-year wait, the red ladies achieved success in style, securing two crucial victories—away against Bosnia and Herzegovina and at home against Latvia (3:0 and 3:1)—securing first place in their group.

If any result can be deemed fully deserved and grounded in hard work, it is certainly the journey that Nikoleta Perović and her teammates embarked on this summer, training rigorously since May to prepare for the Golden League and the culmination of the qualifiers.

It’s time to celebrate, with the reward on the horizon: EuroVolley, which will be hosted by Turkey, the Czech Republic, Sweden, and Azerbaijan next year.

In an appearance on the RTCG Morning Program, Caković shared that he navigated a challenging journey with his players and coaching staff—not in the traditional sense of difficulty:

“It’s about dedicating yourself for a month or more, training hard, and seeing everything come down to just two games, where you need to witness your efforts manifest. That creates significant pressure and stress,” said Caković.

The hard work finally bore fruit, revealing their quality…

“Perhaps that pressure wasn’t prominently felt: the responsibility was certainly there, especially for me and my fellow coaches, but also for the players. I must say, though, that things become much simpler when you have a group of good individuals—not just skilled players. With the right people at OSCG, when everyone understands their goals, problems tend to dissipate,” Caković added.

With several players boasting impressive international careers and nearly half the starting lineup emerging from the Montenegrin League—especially young talents—Montenegro has paved its way to compete with the best European teams.

“We have enough quality as individuals to present ourselves in Europe and secure our place on the map. We possess potential, and we just need to solidify some positions with tangible results. Furthermore, I believe players should commit even more during their club seasons to truly establish where they stand and to elevate their performance during matches,” emphasized Caković.

He gathered the national team in mid-May for their inaugural appearance in the Golden League, where Montenegro managed to hold its own.

“The initial campaign was much more challenging for me as we prepared for the Golden League. The second one, for the qualifiers, was easier on me. I felt less mentally drained because at the start, I focused on establishing a system and motivating the girls about our objectives. That is foundational, and it requires substantial energy—not a scripted performance from a coach. You need to instill competitive training habits in the girls first and foremost.”

Caković highlights another essential factor:

“We received tremendous support from the Federation along with excellent conditions—something many other European national teams would envy. We handled all situations with complete harmony, which gives us a tremendous advantage—the profound homogeneity that governs our entire system.”

Nikoleta Perović, the team captain, excelled in both pivotal matches—Goražde and Kolašin.

True to her role, she secured the final point that mathematically guaranteed our team’s spot in the European Championship.

“This achievement has been a long time coming; the desire was immense. Numerous external factors previously hindered our qualification until this summer, when everything finally aligned. The emotions are overwhelming; I have to admit it took me some time to fully grasp it. Only the day after our victory against BiH did I fully realize everything,” said Nikoleta, the new player for Roma.

“Everything aligned—both on and off the court, creating a beautiful narrative. Two wins, entirely deserved.”

Nikoleta asserts that their ambitions extend beyond this qualification.

“There is significant room for growth. We possess great potential, under a coach who has accomplished remarkable work. Our team is young, and we needed to establish a solid foundation. The prolonged Golden League made our qualifications feel less daunting. We have the potential; the girls must realize that success isn’t handed to you. Through hard work, significant sacrifice, and with the support from our coaches and the Volleyball Federation, success is within reach,” concludes Nikoleta Perović.

Kažić: We won’t enter the European Championship without aiming for results

The qualification of the women’s senior national team for the European Championship stands as a significant achievement since Nikola Kažić became the youngest president in the history of the Volleyball Federation of Montenegro just over a year ago.

“We’ve been anticipating this for a long time,” Kažić conveyed to RTCG.

“From the outset, we believed in the girls’ quality and in the systematic efforts we had put in place. And finally, the pieces fell into place,” he noted.

Everything began with the appointment of Jov Caković as head coach at the start of the year.

“We anticipated the Golden League would be tough. Most people remain unaware of our players—especially those from the Montenegrin League, which we often claim is weaker than it should be. Yet from that league, three players took on substantial roles, rarely leaving the court. It became evident that with quality, proper effort, and our leaders’ guidance on the court, the players excelled,” Kažić explained.

Montenegro qualified by defeating Bosnia and Herzegovina in Goražde (3:0), and a subsequent victory over Latvia (3:1) enhanced their standing.

“Beating Bosnia 3-0 in front of a packed audience, followed by overcoming Latvia in a tightly contested match, highlights this team’s mentality. It’s a testament to everything the coach and staff have accomplished,” Kažić emphasized.

He elaborated:

“After 18 years of trying without success, to finally achieve this—with six points this summer, first place, and notable points for the rankings before the draw—is cause for immense joy.”

The ambitions do not cease with this qualification:

“Even though we will be participating for the first time, we won’t go without aspirations for results. I believe this narrative should be one of the most beautiful chapters in our volleyball history, just as it has been this summer.”

The draw for the European Championship is scheduled for October 4th in Bari. Montenegro will face five opponents in their group.

“The draw system is unique; there are no traditional hats, but you must know that two top-tier teams will be coming in, one close competitor, and two that we can compete against,” Kažić concluded.

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