Team Montenegro’s coach Petar Koković: “We are going to Pristina to extend our winning streak”

The head coach of the women’s U16 national team of Montenegro, Petar Koković, talks about the historic qualification for the European Championship, expectations, and the rivals awaiting his girls at the gathering of the best U16 teams from across the Old Continent.

“We are going there to win” is the message from Petar Koković following his team’s historic qualification for the Final Round of the European Championship. His players have become the first women’s team from Montenegro to reach the final stage of a continental championship - and they did it spectacularly, as the only team in the second-round qualifiers to win all three matches without conceding a single set. 
 
At the European Championship, which will be held from July 2 to 13 in Tirana and Pristina, Montenegro will face hosts Kosovo and the national teams of Türkiye, Croatia, Hungary, Slovenia, Czechia, and Greece.
 
Koković is pleased with the draw. “The competition format, with two groups of eight teams each, makes it difficult to avoid the strongest national teams. We have drawn Türkiye, while Italy and Poland are in the other group, so in that sense, we can be satisfied with the draw. We are capable of competing with all the other teams,” said Koković.
 
Montenegro recently faced one of the teams they will meet again in the final stage - Slovenia, the host of the second qualifying round in Maribor. A 3-0 victory for Montenegro says enough about the ambition and confidence Koković’s players are carrying into the upcoming event. 

“The win against Slovenia in Maribor, on their home court in front of a full crowd, and with a maximum score, was the best match this generation has played. It showed just how much these girls are worth. Even before the draw, I said that our match against Slovenia would be a true benchmark because we will be facing teams of that calibre at the European Championship. And it turns out we have drawn Slovenia again,” Koković added.
 
When at the beginning of January, after the great success and finishing second in the first round of European qualifiers, Koković summed up his impressions from the tournament in Sofia, he said: “We have pearls and we do not want to stop!” 
 
He repeats the same message now, with one key difference - his team has taken another step forward. They dominated the second round of qualifications, and now the European Championship awaits. “What we already knew has been confirmed - this truly is a golden generation. Everything these girls have achieved, they fully deserve - all 16 of them, including the two who, unfortunately, had to be cut after the preparation phase. What pleases me the most is that during the tougher moments - and there were some, as there are in every match and every tournament - the strength and character of the team, the entire group, came to the fore. The girls knew how to rise above and overcome every challenge together, and that is definitely this team’s greatest value.” 

In Maribor, Montenegro defeated Slovakia and Romania (both with a 3-0 score), securing their place at the U16 Final Round before facing their toughest opponent, Slovenia, a match they also won 3-0.
 
“When we learned the names of our opponents, we more or less knew that the opening match against Slovakia could be decisive, like a final. We also knew we could win, provided we prepared well. That victory opened all doors for us, as we were confident we were better than Romania. We finished the job even before the match against Slovenia - a very strong team playing on home ground - and I am especially pleased that we confirmed everything we have built since this generation first came together.” 
 
The credit, he emphasises, goes above all to the players, but Koković also lists his staff: “My entire coaching staff - with my first assistant Nikola Radomirović, sports psychologist Andrea Laković, conditioning coach Jovan Ristić, and scout Ognjen Marković. A huge thank you also goes to women’s senior national team head coach Jovo Caković, who was present at every training during our preparation in Stara Pazova, who travelled with us to Maribor - his support was tremendous. And of course, thanks to the Volleyball Federation of Montenegro, which once again provided us with top-level preparation conditions. What we had available in Stara Pazova is the same level of support the best teams and top athletes get,” Koković said.
 
His players will aim to meet expectations and live up to the trust placed in them, to fulfil the ambitions they have set through their excellent results. Koković returns to the message from the beginning of his interview: “We are going to Pristina to keep winning.”