From the special reporter of Vijesti
For more than 100 years, Primorac and Jadran have been writing the history of water polo, behind the neighbors and old rivals from the Bay of Kotor, there are many unforgettable matches, and from this April, Kragujevac will also find its place in this great rivalry.
The city in Šumadija, which gained an indoor swimming pool in 2011 and soon one of the best teams in Serbia, will host the Kotor and Herceg Novi teams in the semifinals of the Final Four of the Regional League.
The match at the Radnički swimming pool will be played tomorrow (Friday) at 6 pm, while the host and Šabac will meet in the second semi-final at 8:30 pm.
- When you're in F4 you want a trophy, but of course - first we need to win the semi-final, and then we'll try to get to first place - he said See Lompar, assistant in the Primorac coaching staff.
- All teams want the trophy, that's our wish too. Let's try to get past Primorac, and then celebrate in the final - he emphasized Vladimir Gojkovic, coach Jadran M:tela.
KOTORANI FOR THE GREATEST SUCCESS IN RVL
Former European champion Primorac has returned to the important stories of Montenegrin water polo in recent years, having had notable performances in Europe, and he achieved real things in the Regional League this season.
- We haven't been in the finals of the Regional League for a long time, even when we were champions and vice-champions of Europe, our best finish was third place, so a victory in the semi-finals would be Primorac's greatest success, which is certainly an additional motivation - said Lompar, who was also on the coaching staff in 2009 when the Kotor club conquered Europe. Ranko Perović.
Primorac and Jadran have already played three matches this season - the team from Novi Sad won in the Cup final, the team from Kotor won both times in the regional competition.
- All three matches were different and you can never be sure what the match will bring, but if we are realistic - it is expected to be uncertain, maybe two balls will decide. I hope it will be on our side - added Lompar.
The final tournament of the Regional League comes just a few days after many players had tough matches in their national team caps - Drasko Brguljan, the Primorac captain knows how difficult it is to improve his form in such situations.
- We had players who were with the national team, as well as Jadran, and the same goes for other teams. We trained well, we are ready, but we haven't had a game for two weeks. The last one was against Radnički in the quarterfinals of the Eurocup - Brguljan emphasized.
The former captain of Montenegro is facing another derby with Jadran.
- No one can ever predict what will happen. Vido said that the three previous games we played were completely different, each one in its own way. I would most like to play an uncertain duel that we will win - Brguljan does not hide.
JADRAN KNOWS THAT DEFENSE LEADS TO THE FINALS
Jadran has two Regional League trophies in the trophy room (2010 and 2011), last season they were the best team in the league, and now they want exactly what they missed out on at Škver last season - the final.
The rival is now well known.
- We know each other very well, we recently played a match in which we didn't do very well. We often play against each other, we are the best teams in the country and there are no big surprises. Some momentary inspiration can decide - they know what we can prepare, and so do we for them - said Gojković.
The legendary water polo player and former coach of Montenegro did not have much time to properly prepare the team.
- The players have just returned from the national team gathering, it's not easy to get ready, but that's the case for all teams in the tournament - Gojković is not looking for an alibi.
Attack of Primorac or defense of the Adriatic - Vasilije Radović, the captain of Novljanja believes that it is time for his team.
- We know each other very well, we've played many times. We didn't have much time to prepare, but there's nothing new to invent. We know that Primorac scores a lot of goals and that our defense will be key because of that. We hope for success, but we're taking it game by game - says Radović.
Is Radnički the favorite and are you thinking about a possible final with the host?
- It's realistic that it is. We played two matches - we won one, lost the other. We certainly didn't have time to think about what was coming, only about the semi-finals and Primorac. But if it comes to that final, I think it will be uncertain until the very end - explained Radović.
NO ONE EXPECTS A MATCH WITHOUT UNCERTAINTY LIKE THE LAST ONE
The introduction to the semi-finals was the March duel between our two biggest clubs, a bit unusual lately considering that Primorac was convincing and won 20:12.
What does this match tell the coaching staffs of both teams?
- I would like it to be like that now, but it's difficult. It happens once in many years between Jadran and Primorac. It wasn't convincing at first either, but later everything went as it should and everything was on our side. Now I expect a completely different game - said Lompar.
The expert from Kotor, as always, was very precise.
- I expect us to strike a balance between defense and offense, which is very important in all games, especially games like this. Because everything starts with defense. We are a very good, I can even say excellent team in attack, but we are the sixth team in the league in defense, so that is bad. We have conceded a lot of goals this season, dropped a lot of points in Europe, and that is precisely because of the huge number of goals we have conceded. We have to reduce that in the semi-finals.
On the other hand, Gojković joked that they certainly don't expect a match similar to the one in March in the Adriatic.
- We conceded a large number of goals in that game and that's what we focused on - to reduce defensive errors and conceding goals - explained the Jadran coach.
PRIZE FUND 100.000 EUROS
This year's regional league will be played without Croatian clubs, and the new format with teams from Montenegro and Serbia will have a prize fund for the first time in history.
The new champion will receive 50.000 euros, the runner-up 30.000, and the team that wins the bronze medal 20.000.
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