The crisis in the Serbian national water polo team has deepened further. Following in the footsteps of the head coach, 11 players—current Olympic and European champions—have also taken action. They have decided to withdraw from the national team as long as the Federation is led by Slobodan Soro.
The crisis in the Serbian national water polo team has deepened further. Following in the footsteps of the head coach, 11 players—current Olympic and European champions—have also taken action. They have decided to withdraw from the national team as long as the Federation is led by Slobodan Soro.
One of the best goalkeepers of the Serbian national water polo team, Denis Šefik, told N1, while commenting on the Federation’s statement, that “these are the players who played in the last competition.”
“Perhaps the Federation looks at it from its own perspective, but the players who played in the last competition have spoken out,” he says.
As he says, it is normal that the players received public support.
“That is the best part of our entire sport; the players are the best part of water polo, the players have always been the best part, and while we were there, and after us, they are even more so the best part of the VSS. I think it was a mistake by the President of the Federation to take a swipe at them, because the players must not be touched. It is logical that they defend themselves; you cannot win the World Championship, European Championship, or Olympic Games if you are not the best,” he says.
He recalled that he used to say that “our national team is the best, regardless of a few slip-ups.”
“They have the right to defend their stance, quality, and themselves,” he points out.
When asked if this crisis can be resolved, Šefik says “it can always be resolved.”
“I gave them my support, with one comment: ‘from the most trophy-winning federation in the world to organized crime in a week.’ Maybe I exaggerated a bit, but I am a member of VK Šabac, we played the playoff semifinals against Novi Beograd, and a show of force was demonstrated by the referees so that one team could not reach the final; that is why I made that statement, and I stand behind it. I was punished during the first game, I absolutely deserved it, and I accept it,” he states.
“People tremble when they hear Šapić’s name, that is their own fault”
According to him, “people, referees, workers, you can see in a mild version that they have become very afraid.”
“But the national team players showed that it didn’t have such an effect on them; the fact that people here are cowards is not Šapić’s fault, but their own. They can’t help it, they tremble even when they hear his name, that is their own fault,” he says.
Speaking about the playoff semifinals, he says that “there has been no greater refereeing injustice in the history of water polo.”
He says that in the statement of the new Federation president, the truth is that “we have systematically lost our work ethic.”
“Afterward, he shouldn’t have said that it was the players’ momentary inspiration; it’s not an individual 100-meter race, it’s a collective sport; our team has been showing for years that it is the best,” he says.
He adds that the players decided on their move.
“I haven’t had contact with them, I see that they informed me today that people have started attacking four players who play for Novi Beograd; I think that is also not right, because it’s unlikely that someone playing for Novi Beograd would give support, they simply did their part, they are also players who brought the gold medal along with the other 11, they should not be attacked, the players should be given support, and as for the fact that we are the way we are… None of us is crystal clear to the end, starting with me, we all allowed ourselves to enter this mire, this has been going on. We had results, so it was pushed under the carpet, but our federation has had problems for a long time; it’s just that these kinds of statements have exploded now, I think they should have been made more wisely, I don’t know who will be able to calm this down and finish it,” he says.
He also sent a greeting to the fans from Šabac.
“To support them in very difficult circumstances, we could have beaten Novi Beograd, who are better than us but did not show it in three games; to greet the Šabac audience, which has shown itself to be the best in Europe,” Šefik stated.
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Source: N1, Photo: Antonio Ahel / ATAImages