The water polo national team has its goal at the Olympic Games (OI) in Tokyo, it knows its wishes and will not give up on what it wants to achieve, said coach Vladimir Gojković.
Gojković emphasized that everything they planned was done.
"The summer was demanding, we played the World League and it was tiring, but we are satisfied. We will use these last days to prepare in the best possible way and be at the level we want. We have to be realistic, we have 15 guys with us, of which three have experience with the OI. The rest are debutants and nobody has that at the moment," said Gojković at the press conference.
Gojković said that the water polo players are traveling to Tokyo with a lot of hope and the goal of making a result from the first round.
"We can play with the opponents who are waiting for us in the group and I hope afterwards. We have beaten them in the last two years. But we have to be firmly on the ground, with a calm head and a warm heart," said Gojković, who will not be able to play at the Games. counts on the injured Dejan Lazović and Đuro Radović.
Commenting on Australia, the first rival at the start of the Olympic tournament, he reminded that it was the team that kicked Montenegro out of the last World Cup in the round of XNUMX.
"An inconvenient rival, quite demanding, as well as the entire group. We only had such a difficult group in Beijing. Miloš Šćepanović saved a shot just against Australia to enter the quarterfinals. We need to make it to the quarterfinals," said the Montenegrin coach.
He pointed out that the second group is difficult, but that match in the quarter-finals will not be more difficult than those in the group.
"For us, the Olympic Games start from the first round, we are not thinking about the second week, we are focused on that match," said Gojković.
Speaking about the protocol at the Tokyo Games, Gojković said that it existed over the winter and the qualifications.
"And this is even more difficult. We are following the instructions, we hope we haven't made any mistakes, maybe it will be more difficult in the first days, and I hope that later it will loosen up and that we will all be healthy. We have overcome a lot in the last year and a half and the most important thing is that let's keep the peace within the team," said Gojković.
Captain Draško Brguljan said that the team is ready and wants to play the Olympic tournament as well as possible.
"On behalf of the players, I promise to fight to the last atom of strength and we will give our maximum. I hope it will be enough for a medal. It will be specific and it's a shame that there won't be a real OI, because this is the biggest possible competition. It's a pleasure to be in the Olympic village for 15 days, it's a special spirit with ten thousand of the best athletes in the world. That says it all, I'm sorry for everything, the youngest, but they will have the opportunity to play a few more cycles," Brguljan said.
Speaking about the absence of three water polo players, he emphasized that they were weakened even before Rotterdam, and they achieved all the victories.
"So we are not going to Japan weakened, but with a slightly changed composition. These guys are worth it, they won a place to be in the team, they are the best that Montenegro has at the moment. You will only see what quality they have, I hope already - at the OI," Brguljan said.
Answering the question whether the Games in Tokyo are the last in his career, he pointed out that he does not want to go to such a big future, although it is a realistic thing.
"The years have come, we need to give way to the younger ones. We'll see after the Olympics how much longer I can play. I have a lot of motivation, for Aleksandar Ivović and for me, this is the fourth Games. Somehow it's hanging over our heads too - three fourth places. So we're going there to try, the boys will have many more chances and if the medal does not come, it will come in the future," concluded Brguljan.
The Water Polo Swimming Association of Montenegro (VPSCG) and the Savana company signed a new sponsorship contract today.
The cooperation, which started last year, was made official by the president of VPSCG Đuro Marić and the owner of Savana Veselin Mijač.
"I have no doubts about the boys' desire, energy and willingness to fight, and I believe that upon our return from Tokyo we will have the opportunity to meet in a good mood," said Marić.
Mijač wished the "sharks" good luck:
"I am convinced that this time our team will win an Olympic medal, I hope the one that shines the most. I want to thank the boys for their good games and fighting spirit," Mijač said.
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