(photo: Disclosure/FIVB)
It is “unlike any other”. It was in this way that Maja Ognjenović concluded a beautiful speech about Brazilian fans in volleyball. A European sports legend, the Serbian setter won the Club World Cup in São Paulo in December with Scandicci, from Italy, and filled the public with praise once again.
Less than three weeks after winning the intercontinental title on Brazilian soil, Maja gave an interview to Meridian Sport, Serbian sports portal, and spoke again about the affection received in São Paulo. The competition took place between December 9th and 14th, the date on which Ognjenović was the World Cup champion and also won the award for best setter of the tournament.
“I’m not very active on social media, but I use Instagram and, lately, Twitter. I couldn’t help but see it. The people who marked me or what I had the opportunity to see on my own… Brazilians have always been close to me. Since the first trips with the team – in 2007, then the 2016 Olympic Games… They are special, special in many ways, true volleyball fans, an audience that lives for the sport or for volleyball”, began Maja, who followed.
“There are always lots of messages of support. It’s beautiful to play there, although the gym wasn’t adequate – in the sense that it could be five times bigger, I think – the way they experience and show emotion was particularly interesting to me. I see them in a different way than anyone else.”
Maja Ognjenović, Serbian setter
At 41 years old, Maja Ognjenović is one of the most respected setters in world volleyball. The athlete played for the main clubs and was World Cup champion with Serbia in 2018, in addition to Olympic silver medals at Rio 2016 and bronze at Tokyo 2020 – held in 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
More speeches by Maja Ognjenović about Brazil
To the No Attackback in December, when covering the World Cup in São Paulo, Maja Ognjenović had already regretted the World Cup being played in such a small gym: “If I can say that, I regret that the gym wasn’t a little bigger, because I think that even if it was bigger it would still be crowded. But this gym was really ‘ok’ to play in. It was really packed, especially when we faced Osasco and Praia Clube. I think everyone enjoyed it.”
The Serbian athlete also highlighted, to the report last month, that she plans to return to Brazil as a tourist. “What can I say about Brazil…the energy really is different. I speak for myself. I really enjoyed this week and I’m already planning to go back to Brazil just to visit, because when you’re with the team, unfortunately you don’t see many things. But the most important thing is that you feel the love, the support, the energy and, as I said a few days ago, I felt that a lot”, he concluded.
