The Montenegrin water polo team’s participation in major competitions must transcend mere quarterfinal appearances.

This sentiment resonates with many, and it’s a message reinforced by coach Vladimir Gojkovic after the World Cup concluded in Fukuoka. Regardless of circumstances, the ambition to achieve more must persist…

The “Sharks” reached the quarter-finals in Japan, narrowly losing to Greece (10:9). Ultimately, they finished in eighth place, falling short of expectations for a better performance.

The commendable displays from our team throughout the tournament will soon fade from memory. This could be due, in part, to a substantial segment of the water polo community believing for years that Gojković is unsuitable for his role. This eighth-place finish only reinforces the views of some former players who voice their opinions on social media.

Those familiar with the sport know that criticisms of the coach often stem from various sources in our country that are disconnected from the game. Yet, the results speak for themselves and haven’t favored the legendary water polo player.

Gojković has been coaching since September 2015—nearly eight years since his elevation. He succeeded Ranko Perović, inheriting a powerful team featuring stars like Janović, Predrag Jokić, Aleksandar Ivović, Drasko, Darko Brguljan, and Miloš Šćepanović.

Since then, he has worked with a rejuvenated squad, as many prominent players have retired or departed the team—some voluntarily, others following disputes with Gojković. Now, he finds himself developing a completely transformed team, which he needed to prepare for the highest levels of competition, even though many players were not ready at that time…

During these eight years, Montenegro secured two medals at major tournaments—one under Gojković’s coaching debut at the 2016 European Championships in Belgrade and another in Budapest in 2020. The national team made it to the semi-finals only once during his tenure—at the 2016 Olympic Games.

Overall, this accounts for 10 appearances on the grand stage, along with two World League titles—one in 2018 in Budapest and another in Tbilisi two years later.

“In Fukuoka, we saw clear progress compared to last year. However, we are Montenegro, and we have high aspirations. We desire more,” Gojković emphasized.

If a step forward was achieved in Fukuoka in every aspect except for outcomes, the A selection faces a year filled with challenges to finally contend for a medal. Only this kind of advancement would justify expectations in Japan…

The road ahead is daunting, as with just seven months until the World Championship in Doha, our water polo players still need to qualify. Less than a year out, they are also contemplating securing a visa for the Olympic Games in Paris.

These are the challenges confronting both the national team and Gojković. Yet, for any expectations of success to materialize, the overall landscape of our water polo must be significantly improved. Every individual involved in high-level sports must contribute to this enhancement, something that has not truly occurred thus far…

Only when the club scene evolves from a semi-amateur status, with unified goals among all four clubs and the Association, and when all national teams are prioritized, can Gojković be held fully accountable for Crna Gora’s ongoing drought in achieving notable results over the past three and a half years.

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