Đuro Marić, President of the Water Polo-Swimming Association of Montenegro (VPSCG), stated that securing a spot for the water polo national team in the 2024 Olympic Games would be a significant achievement. He noted that building a new team involves numerous challenges.

The water polo season commenced with a World Cup qualifying tournament in Podgorica, where the “sharks” did not make it to the final tournament in Los Angeles. They registered three victories (against Georgia, Australia, and Greece) but suffered two defeats against Spain and Serbia.

“It’s unfortunate, but I believe we’ve made progress compared to last summer. We are becoming more competitive with the strongest teams, though we still need more experience. It’s clear that we are improving,” said Marić on the Association’s website.

The tournament in Podgorica marks the start of a challenging pre-Olympic year for the “sharks,” who will participate in two major competitions: the European and World Championships.

“Our ultimate goal is Paris 2024. I want to highlight that our water polo team is the only one that has competed in the Olympic Games four times, and we aim to continue that tradition. It will be tough, but I am optimistic about our chances. Qualifying for Paris would be a monumental success for our team, and the Association will do everything possible to facilitate that journey,” Marić expressed.

During the World Cup qualifying tournament in Podgorica, VPSCG demonstrated its capability to host significant events.

“Both the Federation and officials from the World Aquatic Sports Federation were pleased with how the tournament in Podgorica unfolded. This was our third major competition organized in two years, and we have met expectations thanks to the expertise and enthusiasm of everyone involved, including the amazing volunteers from Podgorica,” Marić noted.

In July, Podgorica will welcome another major international event – the European U15 Championship, featuring 24 competing teams.

“This shows that we are on the right track. We pursue the organization of these events for two reasons: first, it cuts costs for the Alliance, as it’s cheaper for us to host rather than travel. Secondly, we aim to continuously promote water polo in Montenegro,” emphasized Marić.

Marić also responded to criticisms regarding the national team’s performance.

“We choose to disregard negative and malicious comments and criticisms. Such levels of discourse are unproductive and do not solve issues. Coach Gojković has faced frequent attacks, despite having led the Montenegrin national team to two European medals in 2016 and 2020, along with victories in the World League. What we have now is our reality, and I believe we’re exceeding our capabilities,” Marić explained.

“There needed to be a generational shift, which is an unavoidable part of the process. Previously, we had world-class players like Zloković, Ivović, the Janović brothers, and Jokić, who developed within a stronger system and faced fierce competition. Currently, we have about 50 seniors, but very few are engaged with top clubs. The market situation is what it is; we must remain realistic and patient, as developing a new team and players takes time.”

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