Montenegrin club water polo more than 10 years ago was created for players from Croatia, Serbia, and even Hungary...
The legendary Denis Šefik was the first to enter the national team, followed by the Frenchman Hugo Kruzija, who in 2013 in Barcelona with the "Sharks" became the vice-champion of the world. Both before and after the episode in Montenegro, Kruzija played (and still plays) for his country. Then also Marko Petković, who "survived" the change of generations after the Olympic Games in Tokyo and is now the most experienced in Vladimir Gojković's team...
The role of "foreigner" is now reserved for Konstantin Averka - a Belarusian who was a member of Jadran for three seasons (from 2018 to this summer), before joining Sabadelj. After an excellent season in the Catalan club, he got the opportunity to play for the Montenegrin national team. And he doesn't hide that he can't wait...
- I will have to wait a while for the official debut, but I have many motives. And, honestly, I didn't believe that this would happen even when I got my Montenegrin passport. A lot of things bind me to Montenegro - and I can't wait to play in the cap of the national team whose matches I grew up with - said Averka, a guy born in January 1997, for "Vijesti".
Therefore, Averka is not unknown - that was clearly stated by the selector Vladimir Gojković ten days ago when it was official that he was coming to our team. Averka also joined the preparations in Herceg Novi, at the swimming pool in Škver, where he is in his own environment.
- As soon as I received an invitation to play for Montenegro, I immediately accepted it. And what my role will be - that depends on the coach Gojković. I think that the Montenegrin team has both perspective and quality, but the most important thing is always that we are all healthy and ready for big competitions - said Averka, who represents reinforcements before the WC in June and the EP at the end of August.
He will not need an adaptation period, because he knows most of the team from the period when he played for Jadran.
- I know the work system well, I went through it through the Adriatic. This is a familiar environment, an environment that I love and to which I returned very motivated - Averka added.
This is a dream year for Averka, because he also won the European Cup with Sabadell, together with his teammate from the national team, Dušan Banićević, with whom he also played in the Adriatic.
- I am very satisfied, I had probably the best season in my career. Sabadelj had a notable role on the domestic scene, and in Europe we achieved a fantastic result with the trophy. I also think that I have progressed as a player, because I like both the style of water polo and life in Catalonia. All this is the right introduction for the summer, now I'm thinking about the national team - concluded Averka.
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