Tuesday will mark a significant milestone in the history of Montenegrin water polo as the “sharks” take to the water for their inaugural match under head coach Dejan Savić in Bucharest.

This match will serve as the 1st round of the World Cup qualifying tournament against Greece; however, it holds no competitive significance for our national team as Montenegro will host the Superfinal.

“While the result may not matter, it is crucial for us to begin solidifying our team dynamics,” Savić stated.

One of the foremost water polo experts globally, Savić initiated his work with the “sharks” on December 23, starting preparations for the Bucharest tournament.

“There isn’t much time, but I won’t use that as an excuse… A new coach and a relatively new team present their own challenges. Nonetheless, we must focus on ourselves and minimize mistakes while establishing a solid foundation that accommodates varying player dynamics. My primary focus is on defensive strategies,” Savić elaborated in an interview with RTVHN.

In addition to Greece, Montenegro will face Serbia in the Romanian capital the following day, with the match scheduled from 15:30 to 17:30.

“I’m excited that we will be up against strong adversaries. This will not only allow us to gauge our current performance but also enable us to explore various technical and tactical facets,” Savić highlighted.

“Greece will likely be fielding their top lineup, albeit without Angelos Vlahopoulos; it will serve as a significant challenge. Meanwhile, Serbia is expected to come with a younger team, which is vital since many of those players are of the same age as our senior squad members,” he added.

Regarding their training sessions in Kotor, Savić remarked…

“We have certainly conducted effective training. A positive aspect is that the players have shown determination and a willingness to adapt, grasping the essence of what I’m aiming to achieve—integrating them into a cohesive unit. It’s notable that these players already have the skillset; the focus should be on minimizing mistakes.”

What areas require improvement?

“I believe we need to address several aspects, particularly concerning our mindset and psychological resilience, helping them understand that winning isn’t everything. There’s much to learn from losses as well, and we’ve certainly experienced our fair share,” Savić explained.

He is confident about the condition of his team.

“I believe the players are in fantastic shape regarding physical fitness, as they all hail from clubs that participate in major competitions. Perhaps the only concern is ensuring adequate rest,” Savić concluded.

The new coach is taking 18 players to Romania: Petar Tešanović, Darko Đurović, Miroslav Perković, Sav Ćetković, Jovan Vujović, Đur Radović, Danilo Radović, Vlad Popadić, Filip Gardašević, Nikola Moskov, Bogdan Đurđić, Dušan Matković, Vasilij Radović, Strahinja Gojković, Balša Vučković, Aljoša Mačić, Marko Mršić, and Srđan Janović.

News