The Montenegro water polo team has arrived in Fukuoka, where the World Championship kicks off on Monday.

In Fukuoka, the “Sharks” conducted their first training session in the pool, gearing up for their debut at the World Cup with a match against South Africa on Monday at 10:30 a.m. local time.

Montenegro spent ten days in Kashiwazaki, training and playing practice matches against the Serbian national team, which is also in group D along with Spain.

“We accomplished everything we set out to do. The conditions in Kashiwazaki were exceptional, and the practice matches with the Serbian team were beneficial. I believe we are on the right path. We are pleased with our progress during the first week in Japan, as it served as an initial phase of adjusting to the time difference,” remarked coach Vladimir Gojković.

The coach noted that the players have improved on an individual level compared to last year.

“There has been a rise in individual quality, but more importantly, we need the energy and cohesion among all players, which we maintained during our preparations. If we possess that, we can achieve great things,” the coach emphasized.

Experience remains a developing asset for the Montenegrin team.

“We have not yet had many high-stakes matches; this is still a young team. However, I believe the players are approaching their peak years and have gained valuable experience in their clubs, which I hope will serve us well in this championship.”

The opening match is considered the easiest, where Montenegro is seen as the favorite.

“As the match progresses, we will gauge the atmosphere in the pool. We have trained harder over the past few days, anticipating that our freshness will come into play in the later rounds,” Gojković stated.

The group winner advances to the quarter-finals, while the second and third-placed teams will enter a playoff for a spot among the top eight, competing against teams from group C, which includes Hungary, Croatia, Japan, and Argentina.

“Our goal is to secure a place among the top eight, and we aspire to reach the semi-finals that qualify for the subsequent championship in Doha. Our ambition also includes reaching the finals, as we aim for a position that leads to the Olympic Games. We believe we have the quality to challenge the best if we reach our maximum potential,” Gojković said.

News