The issue has been addressed, and the water polo athletes from Primorje now understand the framework under which they will compete against Croatian teams in the regional Premier League.

The arrangement allows Primorac to host Croatian rivals outside of Kotor, while the teams from the area will also welcome the Montenegrin champion in a neutral location.

This announcement was made by club president Siniša Kovačević.

“I believe this is the best outcome we could have hoped for. It would be detrimental for Montenegro if we didn’t participate in the Regional League, as Croatia and Serbia would have a superior league compared to ours. After discussions with the president of the Regional Water Polo League Board and reaching an agreement with HVS vice-president Peric Bukić, we settled on Primorac playing five matches against Croatian clubs at a neutral venue in Montenegro, while Croatian teams will also compete in neutral pools in Croatia,” Kovačević explained to RTCG.

The Regional Premier League is set to commence on September 21.

“This compromise serves as a temporary solution for the upcoming season, but I hope that the governments of Montenegro and Croatia will ultimately resolve this matter. Primorac should not be subject to political issues, as our focus should remain on sports. It is essential that future leaders at the state and municipal levels address this situation, since Primorac engaged in these negotiations on its own, and it is important for the future of Montenegrin water polo that our club’s interests are considered,” Kovačević emphasized.

But what exactly is the core issue?

The controversy arose due to the name of the new swimming facility in Kotor, named after the renowned water polo player from Primorje, Zoran Džimi Gopčević.

Croats allege that he committed war crimes at the Morinj camp. Consequently, under the direction of the Croatian Ministry of Tourism and Sports, a decision was made prohibiting Croatian clubs and the national team from traveling to Kotor…

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