Oleksandr Svishchov: “The U-19 women’s national team of Ukraine should represent the country with dignity at the European Championship in Israel. An ambitious task is to be in the top 10”

On the eve of the European Women’s Championship, the media center of the Water Polo Federation spoke with the president of the Water Polo Federation, Oleksandr Svishchov. What are the tasks of the girls and how to hold the Cup of Ukraine in water polo in the conditions of war. More about this in the material.

– Soon, in July, Israel will host the European Women’s Championship among teams under the age of nineteen. What are the tasks for the women’s team?

— We understand the complexity of wartime training for our girls, there is no complete cycle of training. Now the team is at a week-long meeting in the Netherlands, where our girls are gaining optimal physical condition. The coaching staff gathered promising girls, the best who are currently in Ukraine. The backbone of the team is quite young and the girls are only 18 years old, that is, they are a year younger than those players who will participate in the European Championship in Israel. We understand that it will not be easy for the older girls in Israel, but at the same time, this is an opportunity for every girl to prove herself. The leadership of the federation sets high goals for this tournament, we have to get into the top 10 teams at the European Championship. Of course, if we are 12-13 at the end of the competition, no one will condemn the coaching staff for this result. I am convinced that this very composition will become the main one in the national team of Ukraine in the near future. In the conditions of war, girls should understand that victories on any fronts, in particular, and in sports, are very important for the country. Therefore, the maximum tasks are to win every match and please water polo fans in Ukraine with their game.

— Oleksandr, during the war in Ukraine it is very difficult to organize a training camp and a trip, tell me which countries helped the women’s national team to prepare properly for the tournament?

— Right now in the country, it is a difficult time and it is quite difficult to organize meetings for the FVPU. We were given the conditions by our Dutch friends and the women’s team went to a free gathering. For this, we would like to thank our partners who help Ukraine and provide a free training base and swimming pool. As for the trip to Israel, it is a very expensive tournament for the water polo federation, a one-week stay will cost more than 1.2 million hryvnias. The management of the FVPU found these funds and the girls will have comfortable living conditions. I would like to appeal to all Ukrainians who live in Israel and love water polo: “Come to the matches of the women’s national team of Ukraine U-19 in Netanya from July 4 to 11 and support the team”, I want the stands to be blue and yellow, as during men’s qualification in Israel. Then our diaspora supported the boys very well, so I am sure that the girls will also feel the incredible support of our fans in the stands. Also, I would like to note that there will be a live broadcast of the matches of the women’s national team of Ukraine U-19 on the official resources of the Ukrainian Football Federation. Support our national team in the EC matches in Israel.

— In addition to the girls, the men’s national team of Ukraine is also preparing for the competition, which will play its matches in Łódź at the student universiade. Tell us what tasks the boys face.

— A team will go to Poland, which includes students of the Lviv University of Physical Culture. At these competitions, the coaching staff will let young players prove themselves.
We understand that there is no game practice and the form of the water polo players may not be the best, but, nevertheless, we are going to Poland for the maximum result. The minimum task is the prize-winners of the student universiade, but I would like the team to return to Ukraine with gold awards. I am sure that the boys are up to this task. Today, Ukraine should be a brand that wins and glorifies our country in everything.

As of today, we are actively negotiating with the Polish organizers of the games to organize a live broadcast of the matches in Łódź, preliminary arrangements are already in place, so I hope that all games with the participation of the national team will be able to be watched online.

— The war is actively going on in Ukraine and I think you have seen the photos from Kharkiv and Mariupol, where the swimming pools were destroyed? Will it be possible to save water polo schools there?

— I was shocked by the rocket attack on the KPI pool in Kharkiv. The consequences of the “Russian measure” for Ukrainian sports are very painful and difficult. Today, two cities – Kharkiv and Mariupol, where the swimming pools were destroyed, have been left without the possibility of developing water polo. Despite such heavy destruction, I want to remain optimistic. The victory of our Armed Forces is inevitable, and when we win the war, an active phase of rebuilding the country, including the sports infrastructure, will begin. I know that in the near future we will build modern sports complexes with swimming pools in both Kharkiv and Mariupol. Water polo will definitely live in these cities, now it’s just a matter of time.

— Oleksandr, tell me what the men’s plans are. Earlier, you reported that the championship of Ukraine in 2022 will not be held, has the position of the leadership of the FVPU changed, or are there options that the championship of Ukraine in water polo or the cup will be held this year?

— While there is definitely no talk of the championship, the situation in the country is unstable, and therefore the issue of the championship is not yet discussed. At the moment, I can say one thing, the leadership of the FVPU wants to hold the Open Cup of Ukraine in water polo among men and women in Lviv. There are already certain agreements here, we want all our Ukrainian teams to be there: men’s and women’s. There are many cities in Ukraine where water polo has a good water polo base: Kyiv, Kyiv region, Lviv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Mariupol, Kramatorsk, Odesa, Transcarpathia. In this direction, we are actively working so that all teams come to the west of Ukraine and organize a water polo festival in this difficult time for the country. There is an idea to have foreign teams participate in the Open Cup of Ukraine. We will send letters – invitations to Poland, Slovakia, Latvia, Lithuania, so that their teams take part in the cup. So far, we have no official confirmation, but in the near future, I think, there will be specifics and I will tell you who will take part in the tournament. I think, in September, the open water polo cup of Ukraine will be held in the city of Leva. Therefore, we are happy to wait for everyone at the tournament. During the Ukrainian Cup, we will communicate with representatives of various Ukrainian teams regarding the further championship of Ukraine. There are certain developments, but it is necessary to take into account the opinions of all team representatives and choose the right format of the competition.

The source of the article: https://fraza.com/stenograms/313838-oleksandr-Svishchov-zhinocha-zbirna-ukrajini-u-19-maje-gidno-predstaviti-derzhavu-na-chempionati-jevropi-v-izrajili-ambitne-zavdannja-buti-u-top-10