A WAIS-VIS composite water polo team has returned from Montenegro after a successful training camp that included practise matches against European club power Budva, and the Brazilian national team.
WAIS men’s water polo head coach Paul Oberman was joined by athletes Tim Cleland, James Fannon, George Ford, Daniel Lawrence, Nick Redbond, Edward Slade and Joel Swift over the two week camp, with members of the Victorian Institute of Sport.
The idea behind the tour was to give WAIS-VIS senior athletes further opportunities, one year from the Olympics to learn, experience and gain valuable playing time against quality European competition. Budva competed in the Champions League last year, finishing fourth and won their National League and Cup. Many of the Budva team are playing for Montenegro National Men’s Team.
The matches against Budva, were of high standard, with the WAIS-VIS composite winning four, drawing three and losing four matches against the Montenegrin club.
The WAIS-VIS team also played two matches against the Brazilian national team, recording 4-0 and 13-11 wins.
WAIS coach Paul Oberman said that the camp had given the Australian group a good learning opportunity against a different style of opponent that would benefit their athletes’ development.
“The tour was very successful and we were exposed to different styles, different tactics and forced to make split second decisions – very quickly,” Oberman said. “Main learning areas for the individuals themselves was their reactions to the above situations and the fast speed of the game.”
“Dalibor and I would like to thank the Victorian Institute of Sport and the Western Australian Institute of Sport for their ongoing support to the Men’s Water Polo programs and also for the tremendous support for the athletes on this tour enabling them to be placed in this learning environment.”
