A group of national team players and the Serbian Water Polo Federation leadership cannot reconcile.
Most of Serbia’s European champions continue to boycott the national team as long as the Serbian Water Polo Federation remains under the leadership of Slobodan Soro and his associates.
Five months ago, 11 players announced that they would not play for Serbia while Soro remained at the helm, following dissatisfaction with his public statements in the media.
In the meantime, Vladimir Vujasinovic was appointed head coach. Before his appointment, he spoke with both the players and former head coach Uros Stevanovic, and announced he would hold further talks with the dissatisfied internationals.
Vujasinovic led a youthful Serbia side to bronze at the Mediterranean Games. However, a young team would have competed at the tournament even if there had been no boycott.
According to information obtained by the Serbian website Sport Klub, Vujasinovic’s contacts with Serbia’s leading water polo players, captain Nikola Jaksic and Dusan Mandic, made it clear that they would not change the position they adopted in May.
The coach later emailed the other players, acknowledged the situation, wished them a successful season, and announced that, under the circumstances, he would turn his attention to the squad that competed at and won bronze at the Mediterranean Games in Taranto. A change of course seems unlikely soon.
Four players of Novi Beograd didn’t sign the letter in May – Cuk, Martinovic,Glusac and Lukic.
However, as Sport Klub published, Vujasinovic will also be unable to count on Nikola Lukic in the coming period, as the player has been suspended for disciplinary reasons.
Lukic moved to Radnicki in the meantime, but he participated in the Mediterranean Games.
The Serbian Water Polo Federation hasn’t announced anything regarding this topic, but has confirmed this state of affairs to Sport Klub.
In January, Serbia will participate in the World Cup Division 1, aiming to qualify for the Final Eight in Athens, which would be the first qualifying competition for the Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: total-waterpolo.com
