After eight months of recovery Boyan Yordanov, who underwent shoulder surgery, rejoined the national volleyball team of Bulgaria. He was called up by the head coach Plamen Konstantinov in order to have a close monitoring of the recovery process and development. If things for Boyan Yordanov go well he could find a place in the squad of Bulgaria for the upcoming 2015 European Volleyball Championship Men in October, which will be hosted in Bulgaria and Italy.

Yordanov gave an exclusive interview to the website of the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation.

How do you feel and what is the situation with your shoulder eight months after the surgery?

I‘m feeling definitely  better and I hope “to go straight ahead and upwards from here on  in the point of my healt. I hope they have  “darned me well (just kidding) and that everything is going to be  fine.

At what stage of the recovery are you now?

– The stage is the following:  I just have to begin gradual loads with the ball. I have to begin playing a little more volleyball. I have to store muscle mass on the shoulder because it has gained a full range of motion, and this allows me to work more. And gradually, we have to see how it responds to overloads.

– Can you spike?

I started  but of course, it is kind of limited. I must not overdo it because this moment is  specific and by a overload one can get tendonitis. And this is not good because it will take me out for a few days out  of the training process and we do not want this. But I’m pretty close to the real volleyball.

– You have an individual preparation with your own regime. How does it go and when are you about to start training with the others?

– We have not spoken about a planned preparation. For now, as the team has a lot of traveling ahead, I am having my preparation with them but of course with my regime. Once they go I will have  to see where I will continue my preparation, as the other squad of TeamBulgaria will will go to the European Games in Baku. There will be a period of 10-15 days, in which both teams won’t be in Bulgaria and I  will have to find a way to play volleyball somewhere. But I hope that this way – with gradual preparation and in stages, to enter in  an increasingly good form.

What was the most difficult stage and moment for you of this long period in which you were outside of the court?

– The first three months are quite heavy because of the operation itself. But then we have the  other moments, the  emotional  ones. To watch  volleyball aside. Important matches to come. Matches, which I have always fought for, and I like to participate in. Playoffs coming, also keep looking aside and so things get a little more serious. Mentally and physically it is not easy, but you must be prepared. One must be  “charged”  with tons of patience. This was an advice I was given after the  surgery, because it is really hard.

Did the fact of watching volleyball for long time aside bring to you the so called  “hunger” to return to the field?

– Definitely! However, there are some positive things, but I do not think it was that great (laughs).  I really haveve tried to look positively at things and  I haven’t allowed myself a single thought of eventual not recovering or that some problems may occur. So I sincerely hope that this will pay off.

Would you give such an advice  to Tsvetan Sokolov  who days ago also underwent shoulder surgery and as you will be absent about 8 months?

– The only thing I would wish him is a quick recovery and to be patient because patience is definitely important in this case.

You have missed  the last major competitions with the national team. Does this motivate you even more for a successful return to the national team?

– Right now my motivation is to stay healthy and to  get back as quickly as possible at a good volleyball level. From there on I think that there is right time for everything , I do not want to skip any stages  because the last few months were tough. Let’s just look in the near future  and see what is happening. If I’m healthy, of course, I will  more motivated.

Taking in mind that  you missed the entire season with Olympiakos, did you expect to get call up for the national team?

– It was clear to me that  after such an operation  I may not be called up to the national team. Anyway, I got a call point two weeks after the team gathered at the camp. I have had a desire for this and I responded positively.

Plamen Konstantinov expressed hope that you will be ready for the European Championship. Is this a real plan and are the doctors optimistic that you will be on the line?

– I also hope to feel better then. If I am ready earlier, even better. There are also purely individual things like how the shoulder will react. For now everything is going according to the  plan. Everything is fine. I passed the final exam before I get here in Bulgaria. The doctor assured me that everything was fine and I just have to be careful with the loads that need to be on a gradual principle. So hopefully soon I will be ready at 100%.

It’s not a secret that you are one of the biggest  favorites of the fans. Is not a dream to return to the national team namely in the European Championship  in front of the home crowd?

– Definitely! It would be quite emotional if it happens so. This is something unique! Playing in front of the home crowd. Moreover, in Bulgaria I have not played with the national team for so long. I have never played in “Arena Armeec”. However, for this thing to happen, I have to be healthy, I have to be in shape if the coach considers that I could be useful and helpful to the team.

What is the mood in  the team now  and how do you feel the situation?

– The mood is good. At least what I saw during a few workouts it is that boys are eager to do something big. Everything is normal, at least as far as I can judge  for the short time I am with them.

Among the  guys called up there are  a lot of young boys. For the short time that you are with them you see some enough potential to break into the national team this season?

– Surely both teams have a lot of young guys. In any case, I think some of them will be given  a chance since the regulation permits this this year. Moreover, we host the finals of the second group of the World League and so all the matches of the group stage are irrelevant. However, the coach will decide.

On Saturday and Sunday the team that is preparing for Baku played  friendly matches vs. Greece.  What is your opinion on their team?

–  The Greek team is a young team, which this year returns to World League, in the third group. This would be good for them. It is not a team with some very big ambitions, but their ambition is to grow as much as possible in every game.

– What is your opinion in general  of the Greek championship and the level there?

–  The Greek championship was stronger some  years ago. However, the crisis has had quite an impact on the tournament. To me this year there were two teams. One was Olympiakos,  and the other PAOK who actually won the title for a very first time in their history. Unfortunately, the Greek championship is not what it was before and I do not think that in the next few years it will be the same as in the past. But European club tournaments allow teams that participate in it to develop, build up and play high level volleyball. Because if they rely on only on the Greek championship it will be hard.

And finally, what does  Boyan Yordanov wish to Boyan Yordanov for this summer with the national team?

– It can not be other but to stay healthy. Because after such an injury, and generally, as trite it may sound, health is the most important thing. My ambition is to get back as soon as possible, to get back in shape. Nine months out of volleyball are pretty much, and I’m not 25 years old , I turned 32. So  this is it. I hope to have many good moments together  with the national team.

Photo:Sportal.bg