Swimming SA scrambles for replacements after several players withdraw from Water Polo World Cup

Players of South Africa huddle during the final match between New Zealand and South Africa at the World Aquatics Women's Water Polo World Cup Division 2 Qualifier at Schwimm- und Sprunghalle im Europa-Sportpark on 4 May 2023 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo: Maja Hitij / Getty Images)

By Keanan Hemmonsbey

21 Nov 2024

South Africa’s hopes of being competitive at the Water Polo World Cup are looking slim as players selected from stringent criteria have started to withdraw.

South Africa’s water polo squad set to take part in the World Cup Division 2 in Türkiye in the middle of December is expected to look a lot different to the one originally selected after numerous withdrawals.

The exact number of players that have withdrawn from the World Cup is not known yet, but several high school players have been recruited to fill the vacant spots.

Prior to the announcement of squads, Swimming South Africa (SSA) published a selection criteria for the World Cup that stipulated that only members belonging to clubs which showed intention of attending the Senior National Water Polo Championships this year would be eligible for selection for the World Cup. This despite Nationals being cancelled this year due to too few clubs registering for nationals.

The chairs of the big three water polo bodies in the country argued the implementation as well as the consistency of the criteria used. Nothing has been changed; instead players who have been selected are choosing not to go to the World Cup.

Daily Maverick spoke to one of the players who elected to withdraw from the World Cup.

“It is stupid expensive for a three-day tour,” the player, who requested to remain anonymous due to fear of victimisation by SSA, told Daily Maverick.

“The price [to attend the World Cup] has gone up to R62,000.

“The main reason [for not going] was that half of the [players] were excluded because they potentially weren’t going to go to nationals that didn’t even happen — it was cancelled.

“After all the work that everyone put in, it’s just a slap in the face to say that they couldn’t come and then be left with less than half of the athletes that play water polo in the country to go on the national tour.”

Players of South Africa huddle during the final match between New Zealand and South Africa at the World Aquatics Women's Water Polo World Cup Division 2 Qualifier at Schwimm- und Sprunghalle im Europasportpark on 4 May 2023 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo: Maja Hitij / Getty Images)

Understrength

Both the men’s and women’s national teams have roped in junior water polo players, many of whom are still in high school, to fill the spots of the players who withdrew. The young athletes took part in junior Nationals at the start of the year.

It is important for SSA to ensure a team is sent to the World Cup or face an economic sanction north of R160,000 per team as well as suspension from World Aquatics events for a period between three months and two years.

The strength of the team, which was already compromised because of the stringent selection criteria, is being compromised further, which could leave lasting damage to the players who do end up at the World Cup.

“It’s really difficult because the [players] that were pulled up after the other players pulled out do have the potential, and are really strong and love the sport,” the national water polo player told Daily Maverick.

“But they aren’t ready right now and I think it’s a disservice to them by throwing them into the deep end so early, without the support of senior players.

“A lot of senior players are in the Western Cape and haven’t been selected or have pulled out. That’s really unfortunate.”

Tough road

Preparation for the World Cup has been nearly non-existent, with the squads announced on 7 and 8 November with the tournament scheduled for 18-21 December and no practice sessions having taken place for nine months.

For most national teams, being selected five weeks out from a tournament is normal, but for a sport like water polo, where players have to pay for their own flights and accommodation, it leaves very little time to prepare those funds.

Tournaments are basically used as training sessions as players get to know each other’s playing styles.

“If you look at our performances historically in tournaments, it always goes from worst performances to best because, as we start to get more familiar with each other, we play better,” the player said.

“But that happens in-tournament because historically we’ve just met up for a couple days or a week before a tournament, done a training camp, and then we’ve gone straight into the tournament and that impacts us hugely.

“Even though a lot of the players played together before in years past, we all go to our separate clubs and we play the majority of the year at our separate clubs doing different roles in the team so you have to get used to each other again.

“Even just one person does make a difference.”

It seems, though, that the fringe water polo athletes who do decide to wear the green and gold at the World Cup are in for a baptism of fire. DM

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South Africa

Understrength

Tough road