Ten days after participating in the European qualification tournament for the World League, Montenegrin water polo players returned to the pool - today in Herceg Novi, a part of the national team began preparations for the second part of the year, which will be followed by the World Championship in Hungary (at the end of June), and the European Championship in Split in the second half of August.
"Sharks" did not qualify for the final World League tournament, so the course of preparations between the two major competitions will be somewhat different. Now - until the team is complete, Vladimir Gojković will work with players from local clubs in Herceg Novi, and later in Nikšić.
- The World Cup is in a month and a half, I believe that we will use the preparations in Škver and in Nikšić in the right way - said defender Aljoša Mačić.
Our water polo players took fourth place at the qualification tournament for the World League in Podgorica. They beat France, then were defeated by Italy and Spain.
- Results - the tournament was not good, but for a young team every game against strong teams like Italy and Spain is important and a chance to improve. I am sure that the duels in Podgorica helped us a lot - said Mačić.
The rivals in the group at the World Cup are hosts Hungary, Brazil and Georgia.
- We will fight for first place with the Hungarians, who defeated us both times in the regular part of the World League this season. It will certainly be difficult, and against Brazil and Georgia we have to think only about victory - added Macic.
A new face in the national team is also preparing - Belarusian Konstantin Averka, who arrived in Montenegro yesterday after recently receiving the green light from FINA to wear the "shark" cap. He is a former Jadran player, and spent this season in Sabadell, with whom he won the European Cup in the company of Dušan Banićević.
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