PR44 - Podgorica (MNE) poised to welcome the world’s best, starting tomorrow

2009

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15 June 2009

Podgorica – the largest and capital city of Montenegro – will host the impending FINA Men’s Water Polo World League Super Final from June 16-21. Games will take place at the outdoor swimming pool “Moraca”. The tournament will feature the following nations, which advanced to the Super Final by emerging from the preliminary rounds as the top-ranked continental teams:

Group A: USA, Serbia, Japan and Italy
Group B: Australia, Montenegro, South Africa, Croatia

Here is the Super Final schedule:

Day 1, June 16 Day 2, June 17 Day 3, June 18 Day 4, June 19
1. 16:20 USA-ITA 5. 16:20 AUS-RSA 9. 16:20 RSA-CRO 13. 16:20 2A – 3B
2. 17:40 SRB-JPN 6. 17:40 SRB-ITA 10. 17:40 JPN-ITA 14. 17:40 3A - 2B
3. 19:00 AUS-CRO 7. 19:00 USA-JPN 11. 19:00 SRB-USA 15. 19:00 1A – 4B
4. 20:30 MNE-RSA 8. 20:30 MNE-CRO 12. 20:30 MNE-AUS 16. 20:30 4A – 1B


Day 5, June 20 Day 6, June 21
17. 16:20 Loser #13 – Loser #16 21. 10:00 Loser #17 – Loser #18 (for 7th)
18. 17:40 Loser # 14 – Loser # 15 22. 11:30 Winner #17 - Winner #18 (for 5th)
19. 19:00 Winner #13 – Winner #16 23. 18:30 Loser #19 – Loser #20 (for 3rd)
20. 20:30 Winner #14 – Winner #15 24. 20:00 Winner #19 – Winner #20 (for 1st)


The tournament promises to be highly competitive and will present a good indication of the participating team’s preparedness for the fast-approaching 13th FINA World Championships in Rome (ITA), beginning July 17. USA and Serbia are current Olympic silver and bronze medallists, respectively, while Montenegro (4th in Beijing), Croatia, Australia and Italy are also 2008 Olympic teams. The national team of Croatia are also current World Champions, a title they won in 2007 in Melbourne (AUS).

This Super Final also marks the debut World League appearance of South Africa (RSA). The African team and their coach are using their Super Final participation as a test of character and skill. “This week’s matches will be extremely tough and good experience for our players ahead of the FINA World Championships next month,” says RSA Head Coach Vladimir Trninic.

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