SA’s elite water polo players will show off their skills when the inaugural SA Water Polo Winter Series tournament explodes into action in Gqeberha from Friday to Sunday.
The event, sponsored by automation company Jendamark, will see 112 of the country’s elite players drafted into four men’s and four women’s franchise squads competing for R224,000 (combined for men and women) in prize money at the Newton Park pool.
Jendamark operations director and SAWP Winter Series tournament director Siegfried Lokotsch said the new Winter Series was similar in concept to the SA20 cricket format, introducing a franchise system to help level the playing field and offer an alternative to the regional dominance of the Western Province and Gauteng teams in interprovincial competition.
“The level of talent in and around the pool is unmatched, from former Olympians and world champions to national and international coaches and referees,” Lokotsch said.
“The Winter Series is the first national tournament run under the auspices of the newly formed SA Water Polo (SAWP) which has successfully challenged Swimming SA in court for the rights to promote the interests of this sport.
“Adding a new franchise event to the national calendar will reinvigorate senior competition, bring back the balance to national competition [where a few provinces tend to dominate] and extend the season beyond the traditional autumn finish.
“For SA Water Polo, it is important to reignite competitive senior water polo, while also promoting grassroots development and giving young athletes from all backgrounds something to strive for.”
Lokotsch said the three-day tournament would pit the best against the best in both men’s and women’s sections.
“This franchise format creates a fresh dynamic that’s both exciting to watch and allows players to compete strength versus strength.
“The sport is not going to get stronger if only the top provinces are getting stronger.
“Players were invited to take part based on their level of representation [provincial and other achievements] and were selected via a draft system.
“The four teams are the Rhinos, Buffaloes, Lions and Elephants.
“The franchise format works like SA20 cricket, so there are no ‘local’ teams.
“All players from across the country have been hand-picked and shuffled, using a draft system, so that no single region will dominate the competition.
“Players in each position have been matched strength-for-strength.”
Lokotsch said a high performance development clinic for young players, coaches and referees would be an anchor element of the Winter Series schedule, and proceeds from the weekend tournament would be used to fund the schools’ development programme.
He welcomed public attendance over the three days.
“Spectators are more than welcome. The organisers would love Gqeberha families to come down to the pool and show their support.
“There is no entry fee and there is free children’s entertainment on offer.
“There will also be food trucks on site.”
Gates at the Newton Park pool open at 3pm on Friday, with the opening ceremony scheduled to take place at 3.30pm. The opening day will finish at 9pm.
On Saturday, action is from 8am until 8pm, and on Sunday the matches start at 8am, finishing with a medal ceremony at 1pm.
Lokotsch said if successful, the new Winter Series would become an annual competition that would be expanded to include Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban in 2026.
Fixtures:
Friday: Rhinos men vs Buffaloes men (4pm), Rhinos women vs Buffaloes women (5.15pm), Elephants men vs Lions men (6.30pm), Elephants women vs Lions women (7.45pm).
Saturday: Buffaloes men vs Elephants men (8am), Buffaloes women vs Elephants women (9.15am), Rhinos men vs Lions men (10.30am), Buffaloes men vs Lions men (3pm), Buffaloes women vs Lions women (4.15pm), Elephants men vs Rhinos men (5.30pm), Elephants women vs Rhinos women (6.45pm).
Sunday: Women’s bronze medal, 3rd place vs 4th place (8am), Men’s bronze medal, 3rd vs 4th (9.15am), Women’s final, 1st vs 2nd (10.30am), men’s final, 1st vs 2nd (11.45)
The Herald
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.