Serbia's Dragan Mihailovic, the Indian men's volleyball team head coach never gets tired talking about the immense potential the Indian players possess and how the system has failed them.

In his new role as head of the Technical Committee in the fourth edition of Prime Volleyball League (PVL) in Hyderabad, the 64-year-old said India had a good chance to qualify for the 2027 World championships -- it has qualified only twice (1952, '56) -- and the time to prepare is now. The deadlock in the Volleyball Federation of India has affected the team's training in a big way. Dragan is, however, hopeful that the impasse will end soon and Indian volleyball can get back to normalcy soon.

"I can say that the role of Technical Committee in PVL has been difficult, a big responsibility. So far, I'm enjoying it, helping Indian referees," said Mihailovic in a virtual interview.

In an exclusive chat with The Hindu, Dragan also spoke about the experience as a referee during his playing days and the joy of coaching the National senior team and the way forward, among other things. Excerpts:

You've been a coach of several various leagues, various National teams. What prompted you to take up the new role in PVL?

To be honest, I was thinking whether to accept it or not. But I thought to myself. 'I will have the chance to see all our players (to be picked) for the national team.'

This is very important for the head coach of the team, especially to see all the young players. Moreover, the rule in PVL is that every team has to have at least one player aged under 21. It's very important for me as the head coach of the National team to be able to see young players, because a majority of them are used to playing outdoors in local tournaments.

With the best of facilities at the PVL, the players can put their best foot forward...

Watching players when they play outdoors is not the best possible way to judge him/her. With the PVL, it's completely different. The standards are high and on par with Europe. Indian players are motivated to give their best. In my new role, I am able to follow the tournament from the first day until the end, and watch the young players in action. Having worked with the National team, I understand the immense potential of Indian volleyball. And PVL offers an opportunity for them to be in a professional environment. And having somebody like me with a huge experience in coaching is a bonus. I think that is a win-win combination. Referees will be happy to have somebody who can help them provide some valuable suggestions or advice especially during difficult games. Someone who can stay behind the referees, giving them some help to take some difficult decision to make PVL successful.

The world body (FIVB) has provided full support to the PVL because they know that our players don't have too many international matches.

Dragan Mihailovic | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

You've largely been a coach for leagues across the country and for National teams such as Hong Kong, Lebanon, UAE, Yugoslavia and Canada. Is this your first big role in a different position?

I have been a referee since 1982 in one of the young and talented clubs in Serbia when I was playing. The club president use to watch us train. During matches, we used to argue for everything. The president told us: 'All of you must do a certification course because you guys argue a lot'. He made it mandatory. We all took our referee licence. Of course, I have spent all my life on the bench, dealing with referees. For the first time, I am the head of a Technical Committee, but I can say that it's been difficult, a big responsibility. So far, I'm enjoying it, helping Indian referees. India is not an easy place for the referees. Players have the mindset that it's never their mistake! It's always the referees who make mistakes.

There are teams in every match which make many mistakes but if a referee makes a few mistakes, they make a hue and cry. For them, one short message is better to stay focused in your performance than think about a referee who is doing his job.

How many matches have you done as a referee at the lower level?

I have done a lot of school competitions, primary and secondary, in Serbia. Now, I'm just a referee during the training of the National team.

What has been your observation of the Indian referees?

Everything is fine so far. One or two small mistakes during a game is nothing. These things at the highest level. I have had the chance to be a coach at the Olympics, World Championships and the European Championships and top leagues in Europe. Too many things happen at that level. The level of the referees is at least one step higher than last season of PVL.

And I hope that it will stay like this because every day we brief the referees, show them the videos and talk about various situations.

There have been lot of innovations in the PVL such as Super Serve, Super Point, heart rate monitoring etc...Which one, according to you has been received well by fans, officials and players alike?

It's Super Point. It's not new in PVL, though. I remember when I was coaching in Greece, after the Atlanta Olympics in 1999-2000, the Greek Federation was using the Super Serve for a season.

They did not continue with it because there were too many close matches that were decided with one or two good serves. Especially in the set, which is a 15-point affair, it can make a huge impact on a team that can win through a Super Point.

How has the review system changed from the previous edition of PVL?

It's much more precise. This year, it is one step forward. And I believe from next year, it will be even better because I got credible information that PVL will have a technology similar to the ones used in ATP tennis. The replay will play on the tab in front of first referee. The challenge system will be even better than now.

How has been your experience of being the Indian head coach?

I worked with the National men's team for a while in 2019 and from March 2024 till now, I've been in charge. India is a beautiful country. I've made lots of new relationships and friendships. Most important is that India has great potential in volleyball. The question is how we can organise ourselves and work efficiently to make Indian volleyball a force to reckon with at the international level.

After the Indian men's team won the silver in the CAVA men's Nations league in June last year, there has been no international exposure for the team...

It's not easy. Unfortunately, the men's National team has worked for just 21 days last year. I don't know what to say... I cannot understand this. I always give this as an example.

Serbia has won medals in tennis, basketball, handball and water polo and it's smaller than Bengaluru (14 million population). We are less than seven million [6.7 million].

India can perform better as it has a huge potential. The recipe is really very simple.

From May when all the important championships around the world finish till September is the crucial period for the Indian National team. In September-October, there is the Cub Championships where the players need to play, need to have the exposure to play against the national teams with a different style of volleyball. It is not the same if you play against Russian players who on an average are two metres tall. Players from Japan and Korea are short but are extremely quick and explosive at the same time. The Indian team has to play against everyone. In India, players compete in most of the tournaments outdoor, use different quality of balls, the flooring is mud and preparation is less. It's not the way to do things.

Can India ever qualify for the Olympics?

It is very difficult to be part of the Olympics. You need to win the continental competition, and after that win quite a few very tough tournaments to secure a spot at the Olympics. It's easier to make the first step through the world championships. From this year, the organisers have expanded the teams to 32. I hope that if powers-that-be allow us to start working immediately after the PVL, and there is some indication that normally we can expect some good news, we have hope. The year 2027 is a big, big chance for India to be part of the world championships. And I think this will be the huge in generally, not only for the volleyball, but for all sports in India.

We have two years through FIVB rankings or qualification tournament to try and secure India a place in the World championships.

India has a good chance to qualify for the 2027 Worlds