The long water polo summer, in which the senior national team had two big competitions, and all the younger selections were in action, ends with the European Junior Championship in Podgorica.
In the competition of 16 selections, Montenegro is a candidate for a high ranking both as a host, but also because of its quality.
"For these young guys, it's a big deal that they play in front of their home crowd, not many generations have the opportunity for something like that. That is certainly a great motivation for us to play the best we can, to get the most out of it and to hope and dream of the semi-finals", said Milan Ćirović, the coach of the U19 national team.
"I think we have a team that can represent Montenegrin water polo in a quality way and that has a chance to fight for a medal, which would be a great success," said Đuro Marić, president of VPSCG.
The junior selection of Montenegro at the championship will be led by young men who played for the best team at the European and world championships this summer - Vasilije Radović, Marko Mršić and Jovan Vujović.
"It is certain that they are spent and they are tired, but they are real athletes and real lions. They wanted to play, to be with the boys who had been waiting for them all summer. I know that when the games come, they will forget about the fatigue and be XNUMX percent ready for all challenges", said Ćirović.
"It's nice to play for Montenegro, it doesn't matter which team," Jovan Vujović emphasized.
"We will do our best, the team is ready, we hope for full stands and support. There are a lot of candidates for a medal, but I hope that one will go to us".
Podgorica will host water polo selections for the second time this year - in May, the final tournament of the European part of the World League was held in the capital.
"I am sure that the organization will be at the level, we already have enough experience and excellent cooperation with VPSCG. I also hope that the results of our selection will be as we want and as expected", said Miloš Antic, Assistant Secretary for Culture and Sports of the Capital City.
The young "sharks" are in a group with Hungary, France and Turkey. The first rival is France on Sunday at 19:XNUMX.
The winner of the group goes to the quarterfinals, the second-placed and third-placed teams play for a place among the eight.
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