Have A Go Olympic Challenge 2024

HAVE A GO AT OLYMPIC SPORTS

FIND YOUR SPORT
Background image

Water polo men start 2015 international campaign

 

Water polo men start 2015 international campaign

Author image
AOC
Water polo men start 2015 international campaign
WATER POLO: The Aussie men kick off their 2015 overseas campaign Tuesday when they take on Brazil in the opening round of the World League Intercontinental tournament

WATER POLO: The Australia’s men’s national water polo team, will kick off their 2015 overseas campaign Tuesday morning (AEST) when they take on Brazil in the opening round of the FINA World League Intercontinental tournament in Corona del Mar, California. 

The Sharks have been drawn in a group with Brazil, Kazakhstan and China in the eight-team tournament that also features the USA, Japan, Canada and Argentina, with the top four teams progressing to the World League Super Final in Bergamo, Italy in June. 

It will be the first time the Australians have played as a team since they defeated the USA at the Aquatic Super Series event in Perth in January and comes off the back of a successful training camp with the Americans and Chinese in snowy Colorado Springs over the last week. 

For complete schedule information or to watch all the matches streamed live on YouTube.com/USAWP, click here. 

Australian head coach Elvis Fatovic, who helped guide Croatia to Olympic gold at the London 2012 Olympic Games before starting his tenure with the Sharks, said the training camp had been a great warm-up for the Intercontinental tournament and the perfect segue to welcome back into the fold some of the team’s European based players and 2013 captain Rhys Howden who is returning from major knee surgery in 2014. 

“The camp was really a way for us to focus on each segment of the game, to remind the players what’s required because we have not been together for almost two months,” Fatovic said. 

“We have gone through all of that because we have an ideal situation to train with quality opponents in the American and Chinese teams, which is better than training by ourselves.

“Everyone trained hard and it was good to have our European based players to readjust to the systems. To have (centre-forward, Joel) Swift and Rhys (Howden) back is also good for the team as they missed last year.” 

So pleased was Fatovic with the performance of his squad of 16, it was difficult to cull the group to the 13 required for tournament play, with Mitch Emery, Gordon Marshall and Luke Pavillard the unlucky players to miss the final team. 

“It was a hard decision for us as the coaches to select the team,” Fatovic said.

“Emery and Marshall trained well but unfortunately didn't make the team. They are still focus players that are important for the team going forward as we work towards the world championships in Kazan this year and next year’s Olympic Games in Rio.” 

Since beginning working with Water Polo Australia, Fatovic has worked diligently to build a solid core of players with a common goal of performing to their potential in Rio next year and the coach is looking at this week’s tournament as another step along that pathway. 

“The key focus for us this week is to make the Super Finals in Italy and as a group to focus on the team structures and strategies to improve each segment, every training and tournament.” 

Following the group stage against Brazil the Australians face Kazakhstan and then China at 1230pm AEST on Wednesday and THursday respectively. 

The Aussie Stingers, Australia’s women’s team, will play their Intercontinental Cup in Auckland, beginning April 28 and will play in a group with hosts New Zealand, Japan and Canada. 

Water Polo Australia