(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) World league super final kicks off in dubai on monday at the hamdan sports complex.top teams will be in action at the hamdan sports complex. — supplied photo
last year’s water polo world league medallists serbia hungary and montenegro have between them dominated world water polo for many years and will arrive in dubai this weekend as favourites to again reach the podium when the world league super final kicks off on monday at the hamdan sports complex a press release said.
however the appointment of new coaches has seen a turn-around in the performances of several other contenders and pundits are predicting that australia brazil and usa could stage a major upset next week.
in january 2013 top former croatian player elvis fatovic was appointed as head coach of the australian team the aussie sharks while his countryman and former mentor and one of the most successful water polo coaches in history ratko rudic was appointed as head coach of brazil. usa has also secured the services of dejan udovicic former head coach of serbia. all three coaches have impressive pedigrees as international players and coaches and based on performances in the super final qualifying tournament their appointments have already started paying dividends for each of the teams who have enlisted their services.
australia placed 7th at the 2012 olympics and 8th at the 2013 world championships however fatovic believes that the aussie sharks have great potential saying “they have always been respected as being tough and strong and we need to build on that”. “the biggest difference between australia and the best european sides is defence so we need to improve that and be more aggressive”.
their performance at the recent super final qualifying tournament was a clear indication of how much they have improved with only a surprise 5th round loss to brazil seeing them miss out on the gold medal match taking the bronze medal after convincingly beating china 16-8.
rudic also moved from his position as croatian head coach after his team took gold at the 2012 olympics signing on with brazil as men’s national team head coach through to the 2016 olympic games.
rudic’s stellar career has seen him coach four national teams win four olympic gold medals with three of those teams as well as three world championships.
with brazil’s best results in recent times being 8th in the 2012 world league rudic has his work cut out for him saying “i see brazil with potential to deliver good performances in olympic games again. i have a great challenge ahead to develop a different project for a team that has not competed in olympic games since 1984 when they finished 12th” the croatian said.
his impact is already evident with brazil defeating china kazakhstan and australia in the super final qualifying tournament finishing with the silver medal after being defeated by usa 11-7 in the final match.
meanwhile former head coach of the serbian team dejan udovicic has joined usa water polo after leading serbia to bronze at the 2012 olympics. udovicic was named head coach of the serbian national team in june 2006 following the separation of serbia and montenegro and in the six years that followed he built serbia into a water polo powerhouse.
“it is exciting to see the improvement in the teams from australia brazil and usa” said dr ahmad al sharif secretary general of the dubai sports council. “the new coaches are clearly having a big impact and we are looking forward to some thrilling matches next week.
“there will be no easy road to a medal and we encourage all sports fans to come and see top class water polo action for the first time in dubai” he added.
group a sees brazil up against serbia montenegro and china while in group b usa and australia will meet hungary and canada.
the competition runs from 16-21 june with matches each day at 2.30 3.50 5.10 and 6.30. tickets are 40dhs per day and are available at the door. children under 12 are free. further information about the event and the match schedule can be found on facebook - fina water polo world league – dubai.
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