Volleyball Federation of Montenegro announces best players and coaches of the year

After clubs, as well as the Board of Directors, and members of the Coaching Commission cast their respective votes, the Volleyball Federation of Montenegro (OSCG) announced on Monday the winners of the awards for the best as well as the most promising Volleyball players and the best coaches from domestic competitions for the year 2022.

Blažo Milić, a member of OK BUDVA, claimed the award for the best male player from the Montenegrin national league for the third straight year.  Last season, Milić won the national cup as well as the national league of Montenegro with OK BUDVA.  Stefan Radević (Budućnost volley), Benjamin Hadžisalihović (Budućnost volley/Budva) and Matija Ćinćur (Budva) were also nominated for this very same award.

Marko Bojić (who currently plays in Saudi Arabia for Al-Nasr Riyadh) was elected as the best male Montenegrin player among those playing professionally abroad. Bojić is a key member of the men’s national team of Montenegro – and earlier this year, he helped Team Montenegro secure their third straight EuroVolley appearance. Marko Bojić delivered an impressive series of performances last season for the Turkish team Yeni Kızıltepe Spor Kulubü, while this season he has been performing just as impressively in Saudi Arabia. Aleksandar Minić (Jakarta Pertamina Energi/Indonesia), Ivan Zvicer (Al Jazeera Sports Club/Qatar), Nikola Lakčević (CSA Steaua București/Romania), Jovan Delić (Maccabi Hod HaSharon/Israel) and Đorđe Jovović (Hiša na kolesih Triglav/Slovenia) were the other nominees for this award.

Rastko Milenković, a member of OK BUDVA, is the winner of the award for the most promising male player for 2022. With the U22 national team of Montenegro, Milenković secured a historic participation in the Final Round of the European Championship in that age group, and he went on to contest that competition. Milenković is also a member of the senior national team that qualified for a third straight edition of EuroVolley, and like Milić, he won the double domestic crown with the OK BUDVA in the 2021-2022 season.

The head coach of OK BUDVA, Miloš Marković, was therefore quite an obvious choice when picking the recipient for the best coach of a men’s team. He is the assistant coach of the men’s senior national team of Montenegro as well. 

Teodora Čavić, a member of Galeb Liko Soho Group received the most votes from clubs and eventually claimed the award for the best female player from the domestic championship for 2022.  Lana Labović (Galeb LSG/Herceg Novi) and Kristina Božović (Akademija) were also in contention for the same prize.

Nikoleta Perović (Omag-MG San Giovanni in Marignano/Italy) was chosen for the second straight year as the best Montenegrin female player who competes abroad. Last season, with the Bandung team, Nikoleta won the national league of Indonesia, and she is currently leaving her mark in the Italian A2 Series. Melisa Cenović (OK Marina Kaštela/Croatia), Dušanka Petrović (OK Marina Kaštela/Croatia), Tatjana Bokan (SC Potsdam/Germany, now OK Herceg Novi), Katarina Budrak (Bordeaux Mérignac Volley/France) and Dijana Vuković (CSO Voluntari 2005/Romania) were the remaining nominees for this prize.

Lara Jovović, a member of Morača, the best outside hitter in domestic age-group competitions, is the winner of the award for the most promising female player in Montenegro for 2022.

Finally, Petar Koković, the coach of Galeb Liko Soho Group, has been recognised as the best coach of a women’s team after last season he claimed both the national league and national cup titles.