The match was characterized both by tension in the game process and by the friendly spirit that reigned between the participants. Volleyball is a sport that requires not only physical preparation and coordination, but also good command of tactics and team harmony. In every point, in every rally, the responsibility of each player to his team and to his opponent was felt.
The victory in the end went to the hosts – the team of "Dobro 2" prevailed over the Burgas representative, but this result was by no means a cause for disappointment. On the contrary – the selection of the winner took place in a spirit of mutual respect and recognition of the efforts given by the opponent.
The Ukrainian coach who brought volleyball to Bulgaria
One of the most interesting personalities of the day was the referee of the match – the Ukrainian coach Natalia Alexandrovna Chukrai, who today works and promotes volleyball in the Municipality of Sveti Vlas. Natalia's story is inspiring and sad at the same time, as it intertwines the sports path and the pain of the war that is tearing apart her relative Ukraine.
Volleyball has been an inseparable part of Natalia's life since childhood. Her love for this sport arose thanks to the sports school and her good coach, who passed on to her not only the technique and rules of the game, but also the true passion for volleyball. The young talented girl continued her training at the pedagogical institute in Nikolaev, where she chose the "Physical Culture" faculty and established herself as a player in the first league of the university team.
From Ukraine to Bulgaria: A path of resilience
Over the years, Natalia participated in the traditional tournaments of her city, region, and often traveled to other Ukrainian cities that occupied an important place on the country's volleyball map. In 2015, she decided to professionalize her coaching experience, which turned out to be the beginning of a very productive period in her life.
She worked at the sports school in the city of Kherson, where she was responsible for preparing young volleyball players and taking them to national championships – both in beach volleyball and in classic games. But this peaceful and fruitful activity was suddenly stopped – the war caught up with Natalia and her pupils in Kharkiv, where they were just participating in a national championship.
Evacuating from occupied Kherson, Natalia was looking for a way to continue her coaching activities. She saw an advertisement that was looking for a volleyball coach and decided to try her new path. But moving to a new country is painful, and loneliness at the beginning is pressure that not everyone can handle.
From pain to mission: Volleyball as a bridge
A complex personality like Natalia, however, found a way to transform her personal pain into a mission for the good of the community. Realizing that volleyball can serve as a cure, as a salvation, and as a meeting place, she decided not only to prepare children, but also to attract older people to the sport.
"I thought about the elderly – if they go to training, it is pastime, communication, physical exertion, and somewhere in my heart I wanted to help them," Natalia shares, telling about her intentions.
It turned out that there are many people in the elderly population who want to play volleyball. There is a whole layer of real volleyball fanatics who have always considered the sport with deep affection and attitude. During the conversations and trainings, Natalia felt a strong desire – the desire to organize some kind of competition.
The birth of the volleyball community
And so, from the simple idea of uniting people around volleyball, a real volleyball community arose. Natalia decided to act and organized the meeting between "Molnia" and "Dobro 2" – a meeting that brought joy, energy and hope to the lives of the participants.
"Let people play, get a kick out of it, make new acquaintances and of course promote volleyball," says Natalia with optimism that is contagious. For her, volleyball is not just a sport – it is a way of life that helps people overcome difficulties, find meaning and build strong relationships with others.
Prospects ahead
When we asked Natalia what awaits her in the future, her answer was wise and full of hope: "Time will tell." This phrase reflects the inner balance of a woman who has learned to live from day to day, but with a clear goal and unwavering optimism.
The meeting in Sveti Vlas is just one episode in the long history of the popularization of volleyball in the municipality. But an episode that clearly shows that sport has the power to unite people, to overcome distances and borders, and to give life meaning and fullness.
In the person of Natalia Chukrai, we see the image of a true sports figure – a person who does not give up in the face of difficulties, but on the contrary, turns her pain into a motivation to serve others. Volleyball in the Municipality of Sveti Vlas is happy to have such a dedicated coach.