Rebellion in the Serbian national team, message from players: We will not play while Soro is the president of the Federation!

Trophy goalkeeper Slobodan Soro became the president of the Serbian Water Polo Association a few days ago, immediately after that coach Uroš Stevanović resigned due to different views, and now the players have also spoken out.

And they did something that is rarely seen - they announced that they would not play for the national team while Soro is at the helm.

This is a message from all the aces who wear the Dolphins "cap", so they signed: captain Nikola Jakšić, Radoslav Filipović, Dušan Mandić, Strahinja Rašović, Sava Ranđelović, Đorđe Lazić, Radomir Drašović, Nemanja Vico, Nikola Dedović, Petar Jakšić, Viktor Rašović...

The statement stated, among other things:

"As long-time national team members, current European and three-time Olympic champions, we believe it is necessary to speak out regarding the latest developments in our Federation. The new President of the Federation, Slobodan Soro, has repeatedly tried to discredit and belittle all of our successes of the last few years through his statements. Our gold medals were not in the least a reflection of momentary inspiration, as Slobodan Soro states, but rather years of great sacrifice, training, unity and struggle."

Adding:

"We would also like to remind the public that several players from the current national team have already been subjected to unsportsmanlike actions by Slobodan Sor and his team of people from VK Novi Beograd, from bans on training, expulsions from the club, not being allowed to play for the national team, etc. We believe that even then, all these actions were done in order to harm our national team, our unity and to prevent the further progress of Serbian national water polo."

"After much thought and mutual discussions, we have made a unanimous decision to withdraw from the Serbian water polo team as long as Slobodan Soro and his team are at its helm. This decision was very difficult, because playing for the national team has always been the greatest honor and privilege for us and the dream of every young athlete. However, we believe that it is necessary for us to personally raise our voices against all those who want to discredit and destroy the hard-won successes of the water polo team for the sake of their own personal interests. Such individuals must not be at the helm of the most trophy-winning national team in Serbia."

It is concluded:

"We appeal for public support from former and current athletes, people from the world of water polo, and all those who care that the Water Polo Federation does not fall into the hands of those who, out of their personal dissatisfaction and whim, want to devalue the past and destroy the future of our most trophy-winning sport."