The development of the men’s Super League, the increase of women’s teams in the Premier League and the tasks for the Ukrainian national teams for 2024. In an interview with the Ukrainian Water Polo Federation Media Center, the President of the Ukrainian Water Polo Federation, Oleksandr Svishchov, shared his answers to these questions.
“About the Men’s Water Polo Super League”
– Alexander Yurievich, the number of teams in the Men’s Water Polo Super League has increased to eight. How much more interesting do you think this championship has become than last year’s, and is there more intrigue in the matches?
– This season of the championship has actually become more interesting in terms of the fight for second place, with two groups – “A” and “B” – having teams that will compete for silver and bronze medals. This fact, of course, pleases me, but I would like to have a team that will impose a fight for the championship and be a worthy opponent for VC Dynamo Lviv in the championship race. So far, there is no such team in Ukraine, but the level of the matches has improved. Yes, there are matches where we see intrigue until the last second of the match, but unfortunately, there are not many of them. However, looking back at last year, there are teams that are making progress.
In water polo circles, I have heard the idea of playing Super League matches every week. I am also in favor of this format. But, objectively, the realities are completely different, we lack infrastructure, and not all teams have the financial resources to go on tours as often. Therefore, it is not yet time to talk about this system. I think the main achievement is the increase in the number of teams in the Ukrainian championship. This gave young water polo players, in particular, the opportunity to prove themselves.
“Next season, we intend to increase the number of teams in the Women’s Major League”
– In men’s water polo, there is intrigue for second place and the championship has increased to eight teams, while in the women’s championship the situation is unchanged, with only three teams. How to change the trends in women’s water polo?
– The war had a strong impact on women’s teams, and most of the girls left for abroad after the start of the full-scale invasion. Many remain there to this day, particularly in Germany. I hope that next season, women’s teams from Kharkiv and Dnipro will apply and we will be able to return to the format of five teams in the Major League. So far, the situation is that there are three teams. I would like to see a team from Kharkiv represented, because they have always fought for gold medals at the championship. Now these girls have gone to different teams. At this point, we wanted to save women’s water polo, and we succeeded. Next, we want to reach the quality of the championship in the pre-war period.
“There will be no coaching rotation on the national teams’ bridge for now”
– In the summer of 2023, you said that by the end of the year there would be changes in the coaching staff of the national teams, both women’s and men’s. What candidates did the Ukrainian Water Polo Federation leadership consider and who will coach the national teams in the new year?
– The Ukrainian Water Polo Federation management has organized an open competition for the position of head coach of the Ukrainian men’s and women’s national teams. Now I can state the fact that no one other than the current mentors has applied for the position of head coach. The situation looks like this: coaches are afraid to take responsibility in the current realities. For example, the coach of the Ukrainian women’s national team does not have a clear picture of the girls’ fitness level abroad, how they train, and this is a real problem. We understand that it is a big challenge to manage the country’s top water polo team, but we would like to see more interest and competition among coaches. Working with national teams is very responsible, but also prestigious. Currently, Oleksiy Shvedov and Serhiy Ryabchenko will work with the national teams until 2024. I wish both mentors strength and patience in their work and good results. At the end of 2024, we will also hold an open competition for national team coaches. Next year will be more of a preparatory year for our national teams. The teams will not take part in major tournaments, as the European men’s and women’s water polo championships are currently underway.
– Oleksandr Yuriyovych, how do you see the development of both our national teams: men’s and women’s in 2024?
– You know, today I have only one wish: to win the war and have the enemy out of the Ukrainian land. Of course, I and the entire leadership of the Ukrainian Water Polo Federation want our national teams to give the fans reasons to rejoice. There are very few moments now when there is a real reason to rejoice. Therefore, we want the guys and girls who will represent our water polo on the international stage to do their favorite thing with dignity.
