Italian website Gazzeta.it has announced that the Ngapeth brothers (Swan and Earvin Ngapeth) have skipped the last two days of training in Modena after they had a falling out with coach Radostin Stoytchev. Although reports are uncertain of the reasons that led to the feud, there is speculation that it has something to do with Stoytchev’s strict team rules and a recent denial to a request from the brothers to travel to France after one of Modena‘s games.
Ngapeth’s history of indicispline is long, as he just added another case of drunk driving to his file. To his defense, though, there are speculations that he is not alone in criticism of Stoytchev, with many players being vocal about their discontent with the strict Bulgarian coach. As an example, some fans have commented in Italian news forum that Team USA’s standout Max Holt has shared a picture of the brothers’ empty lockers in Modena‘s gym in Instastories with the caption “missing my brothers.”
Italian league rules allow Ngapeth to transfer to another Serie A1 team if he chooses to do so before 12/17. If he parts way with the club after that, though, he can only sign abroad. However, Ngapeth is signed to Modena through 2020, and star setter Bruno, a good friend of him, has recently said in an interview that he intends to play with the team for a long time. The duo is one of the best 1-2 punches in the world.
Stoytchev, in the other hand, is also signed through 2020, and is one of the sports most successful coaches at the club level, having won 4 Italian Scudettos (2007-08 , 2010-11 , 2012-13 , 2014-15), 4 FIVB Club WCH (2009 , 2010 , 2011 , 2012), and 3 CEV Champions League (2008-09 , 2009-10 , 2010-11). Plus, he has a good relationship with Modena‘s president Catia Pedrini.
In all, Stoytchev and Ngapeth have only been working together for the last three months. Modena is currently in third place in Serie A1 standings, only 1 point behind competition leaders Lube Civitanova.
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