A Bulgarian national found himself stranded in Dubai due to the escalation of tension between Iran, the USA, and Israel, it was learned.VolleyWeek.bgAfter the conclusion of the regular season with Grottazzolina, which was relegated from Serie A1, the middle blocker was included in Cuneo's squad for participation in the NAS Sports Tournament in the United Arab Emirates.
The Bulgarian player participated in the team's second victory in the tournament. Cuneo, competing under the name ALTADAWI, defeated TIGER 3:0 (25:21, 25:19, 25:20) and, with two wins, leads the standings in Group B. Petkov finished the match with 3 points, all scored from attack. His teammate from Grottazzolina, Michele Fedrizzi, is also in the squad.
Cuneo controlled the match from start to finish, with stable serving and higher attack efficiency making the difference in each of the three sets. The Italian team demonstrated balance and depth in its squad, allowing it to rotate without a significant drop in level.
Outside the sporting aspect, however, the situation is far more tense. Due to the escalation in the Middle East and the subsequent military actions, a number of airlines canceled flights to and from the region, and several countries temporarily closed their airspace. Dubai airport also suspended flights "until further notice," which calls into question the normal return of the participating teams.
VolleyWeek.bgcontacted Iliya Petkov, who assured that at present the situation is calm and the team is safe. Volleyball inevitably remains in the background, while the main priority is safety and the possibility for the teams to return smoothly to Italy.
We remind that Petkov is with Cuneo only for this tournament, after the team finished 11th and secured a second consecutive season in Serie A1. Also in Dubai is Cisterna, which will participate in the playoffs for fifth place.
In a dynamically developing situation, the most important thing remains the health and safety of the players and staff. From the editorial team, we wish for a successful end to the tournament and, most importantly, a safe return to Italy at the first opportunity.
