The final tournament will open with a semi-final duel between Montenegrin rivals – Primorac from Kotor and Jadran m:tela from Herceg Novi, on Friday at 6 pm, while in the second semi-final, from 8:30 pm, the local Radnički and Šabac Elixir will face off.
Radnički enters the finals as the most convincing team of the regular season. The Kragujevac team won first place, scored the most goals in the league and conceded the fewest, confirming their dominance at both ends of the pool. In addition, the home field advantage further emphasizes them as the main favorite.
– We had a season with a large number of matches, both club and national team. I think that’s where the players are most stressed. This is a fight for a nice trophy, significant prestige, and we want to win our third Regional League cup. We don’t look too much at form and momentum. We all want the best and the most important thing is to give our best at a given moment. As the hosts and the team that finished the regular season in first place, we are considered the favorites. In addition, we had the most consistent games in this part of the season. I hope that we will look even better now and that we will win the trophy – said Uroš Stevanović, coach of Radnički.
With more than 80 trophies in his career, Radnički captain Andrija Prlainović is one of the most decorated players in this tournament. Despite this, he points out that he still has a great “hunger” for trophies.
– As long as I play, I try to find a motive and it’s good that I still have it. That nervousness that exists is still present before this tournament, which certainly carries weight. I’m happy about this tournament and I believe that the pool will be filled to the last place and that a real spectacle will take place in Kragujevac. I want to emphasize that this league has justified its formation and existence and that a large number of young players have affirmed themselves through it, for whom these strong matches are very important. We accept the role of favorites, it is not a burden for us but more of a motive, because we are playing in front of our audience and we want to celebrate the trophy together – emphasized Prlainović.
The people of Šap accept the role of outsiders against Radnički, but emphasize that they are not coming to Kragujevac with a white flag.
– We are aware of the kind of team we are playing against, with most of the Olympic and European champions in our ranks. We are absolutely not the favorites, but I hope that this time we will give our maximum, unlike the last “final four” of the Serbian Cup. We were not satisfied with our performance then and that is why we were left with a “bitter” taste. The most important thing is to give our maximum and to look like we have looked for most of this season and if we succeed in that, I will be absolutely satisfied, regardless of the outcome – emphasized coach Nemanja Ličanin.
Of all the participants in the “Final Four”, the team from Šapčani was the only one that failed to beat the team from Šumadija this season.
– Radnicki is an exceptional team. In the first part of the season, we beat teams much stronger than us at home, but we were unable to beat Kragujevac even in our own pool. It would be an extraordinary feat to win here. If the chance arises, we will certainly take it. We play without pressure and, thus relieved, we can do something that no one expects. We have nothing to lose, we can only win – concluded Mihajlo Repanović, captain of Šabac.
The entire season, with all its ups and downs, is packed into just three days and practically two matches. Form, quality and continuity from the league stage are important, but in tournaments like these, inspiration, the moment and mental toughness are what count.
– This tournament is very important, especially for young players, because this is an invaluable experience and I think it will prove itself and draw attention to itself. We haven’t been in the Regional League finals for a long time. Even when we had a great team and were European champions, our maximum achievement was third place. I hope that we will now take a step further and qualify for the finals, and then win the trophy. This season we have played three matches with Jadran, all three different and we can never be sure what awaits us – said Vido Lompar, assistant coach of Primorac.
Another experienced player, Draško Brguljan, points out that it is difficult to time the form, but hints that there will be big battles in the pool.
– A large number of matches in a short period of time is a big burden for the players. The calendar has not been as it should be for years, but we are all adapting. We had a lot of players in the national team, both us and Jadran, but that’s the case for all teams. I think we are ready. Despite being eliminated from the Eurocup, I think we played an excellent double-header with Radnički and I hope we will continue in the same rhythm. In the derby with Jadran, no one can predict what will happen. I would like it most to be an uncertain duel, in which we will win. – Brguljan concluded.
Jadran’s strategist Vladimir Gojković pointed out that the four teams that most deserved it through the league stage qualified for the tournament.
– There is no need to mention how well Primorac and we know each other. These are the two strongest teams in Montenegro and there is no room for big surprises. The inspiration of the moment will decide. Both they and we know what each can do. In these circumstances, with national competitions overlapping and players who have just returned from national team training camps, unfortunately, there was not much time to prepare specifically for this competition. Despite that, we all came here for the trophy. Let’s first beat Primorac, and then lift the cup in the final – said Gojkovic.
The Jadran team knows what to do in the “Bokej derby”.
– We know the Primorac team very well. They score a lot of goals per game and it will be crucial to stop their attack. The key lies in our defense, we are going game by game and hoping for the trophy – said Vasilije Radović, captain of Jadran.
The prize fund of the Water Polo Regional League is 100,000 euros – 50,000 euros for first, 30,000 for second and 20,000 for third place.
