Memories of the first official Serbia and Montenegro v USA match in 1953
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DRAGUTIN CUK, TEAM MANAGER OF SCG TEAM AND ALBERT MONACO JR. TEAM MANAGER OF USA TEAM AND PRESIDENT OF THE USA VOLLEYBALL FEDERATION |
The first friendly match between the Teams of Yugoslavia and the United States was played back in 1953 in Belgrade.
On the football stadium of “JNA” (Yugoslav National Army), on August 24, 1953, at 20:00h, under the light of reflectors, Yugoslavia and USA started a friendly volleyball match in front of 3,500 spectators. The Teams played on a court erected on a special wooden flooring set under the south stands.
In the meantime, the “Blue Team” has played 3 times against the US Team at the World Championships, once in the Olympic Games and once in the World Cup. At the 3rd World Championships 1956 in Paris, the US Team won the first and the only big tournament match against the “Blue Team”, with 3:0. The sides changed in the 14th edition of the World Championships 1998 in Chiba, where the “Blue Team” beat USA 3:0, like four years later (the 15th WCH in 2002) in Argentina, when they were victorious again by 3:1, in the match played in Salta. At the jubilee of the 10th Olympic Volleyball Tournament in Sydney in 2000, the “Blue Boys” led again by 3:0. Finally, at the 10th World Cup in 2003 in Japan, the “Blue Team” won in Tokyo by 3:0.
In the World League, beside the matches in Spokane this year, the “Blue Team” and the US Team met only once, at the 2000 Final Tournament in Rotterdam (3:0 for the Yugoslav team). The two Teams played a total of 8 matches, with Serbia and Montenegro winning 6 and losing 2, with the set difference of 19:9 in their favour. The last weekend will give the final answer regarding which team from the “Olympic” Pool A will qualify for the Final Tournament in Moscow.
In the presence of journalists from 21 media, Volleyball Federation of Serbia and Montenegro held the last Press Conference prior to the matches of the 6th World League Intercontinental Round week-end of the Pool A, in Hotel “M”.
Speakers for the PC for the matches between Serbia and Montenegro and the USA were Ljuba Travica, Head Coach of the “Blue” Team, Hue Mc Cutcheon, Head Coach of the USA Team, Dragutin Cuk, Team Manager of the “Blue” Boys and Albert Monaco Jr., Team Manager and President of the USA Volleyball Federation.
- I would like to say that we are very happy to play in this wonderful country and to thank again for the hospitality and welcome offered by the Organizers, said Albert Monaco Jr.
- We really do have exceptional conditions and the attention offered to us by our hosts is really impressive. We had a disappointing week-end in Poland, and we do hope that we will play a lot better here. Especially as we know that the play of our adversary is on a much better level that it was in Spokane, explained Hue Mc Cutcheon, Head Coach of the US Team
- Beside warm welcome to the guests from the USA, I would like to reiterate our gratitude to the USA Volleyball Federation and the Local Organizer in Spokane for their assistance and attention during our stay in their country, emphasized Dragutin Cuk, Team Manager of the “Blue” Boys.
- There’s no more philosophy, no more stories. We go to the court and play the best we can, so I must say that we must be focused exclusively to our first match. We will concentrate only on our game. I am convinced that we will have full house for both matches and the spectators deserve the maximum from our part and the best volleyball to experience. I am still thinking whether to include Nikola Grbic in the first line-up for this week-end, commented Ljuba Travica, Head Coach of the “Blue” Boys.
The second part of the Press Conference had a festive character. Mr. Dragutin Cuk, Team Manager of the “Blues” presented to Albert Monaco Jr., Team Manager and President of the USA Volleyball Federation the copy of the scoresheet from the match between Yugoslavia and the USA played on August 24, 1953.
The matches of the 6th Weekend of the Pool A between Serbia and Montenegro and the USA will be played on Friday, August 18th, from 20:00 CET in the Sports Hall “Pionir” in Belgrade, and on Saturday, August 19th, from 20:00 CET in SBC “Vojvodina” in Novi Sad. |
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