Macedonian players looking forward to second #EuroLeagueW appearance

The members of the Macedonian women’s national team came together this week at the Goran Pandev hotel in Strumica where, under the leadership of their head coach Stefan Paunović, they will start preparing for their second appearance in the CEV European Silver League. 

In an excellent atmosphere, the team begins to ready themselves for this important international competition. The feeling is good, especially considering that the team has been together for a long time, and the players are more experienced this year.

Head coach Paunović believes that the team will perform well and hopes for their first victory in a European competition for a long time. 

“With the girls who are part of the national team, we have been building a system for some time now. We know the opponents well, and I think we have a chance, since these are some national teams that are at our level. I expect us to go step by step, that will be the agreement with the girls, and we will see the result in the end. We are playing two tournaments on home soil and that can be both an advantage and additional pressure. We will prepare to turn that pressure into an advantage. It will be important for us during this period to prepare ourselves mentally, physically and tactically - so that we are ready for what awaits us. 

“I am optimistic, I have already watched the matches of our rivals from the previous edition. Luxembourg has shown good consistency in recent years, whereas Switzerland is a team that still has a chance of qualifying for the European Championship, but we certainly do not enter this Silver League as outsiders, no matter what is said on paper. I am sure that we will fight for everything – for every point, for every set, with every team. We will not look at who is on the other side, we will play our game and prepare for it, and whoever finds themselves on the opposite side should be afraid,” emphasised Paunović.

The European Silver League matches are also considered an excellent preparation for the remaining CEV EuroVolley 2026 qualifiers with Greece and Austria scheduled for later in the summer. 

The Park Hall in Strumica will be the national team’s base until the start of this year’s CEV European Silver League matches. North Macedonia is hosting one of the tournaments in the first weekend of play, i.e. from May 30 to June 1, when it will welcome Luxembourg and Switzerland.