April 24, 2018 - The Montenegro Water Polo Camp is a place where you can learn how to become a sportsman and win championships, says Montenegrin Olympians Damjan Danilović and Vjekoslav Pasković, who are also the organizers of the camp.
The idea of this camp, as a summer school of sports and water polo, is not new, says Damjan Danilović, a former Primorac and Montenegro National Team player. “Although Montenegro calls itself a water polo country, we still haven’t had this kind of project, dedicated to education as well as the popularization of this water sport.” The idea became reality in partnership with his colleague, Vjekoslav Pasković, who also found that this could be an excellent contribution to the future of water polo. MWPC is supported by the Municipality of Tivat and the Tivat Tourism Organization.
“Together with camp coordinators and an experienced team of coaches, participants will have the opportunity to train, play and learn all about water polo and sport as a way of living," says Pasković. Besides the organizers, other Montenegrin national team members, Olympians, champions and medal winners will also participate to share their knowledge with future professionals. The camp program is designed for both boys and girls, aged between 9 and 15.
The first edition of MWPC will take place in Tivat from June 15th to August 26th. It is divided into five, two-week shifts with a maximum of 40 participants per shift.
“MWPC will be both educational and fun for its participants. During lectures, experienced water polo players, doctors, and pedagogues will talk about sports medicine, sports psychology and proper nutrition, while creating a true team spirit. Special attention will be given to teaching children about fair play. Beside two pool trainings per day, participants will also have the opportunity to participate in various creative workshops, led by experienced youth trainers,” says Vjekoslav Paskovic, now a member of the Italian Brescia Water Polo Team.
The unique advantage for camp participants and useful information for the parents is that Hotel Kamelija, where the participants will stay, is on the seafront - and the open pool is part of the hotel beach. The area is safe, with no traffic at all. Hotel Kamelija also has tennis and basketball playgrounds, as well as an open amphitheatre which is very suitable for the camp afternoon programs.
The international MWPC will be an opportunity for young and future players to compare their work and efforts with peers from other countries. So far, we know that participants will be coming from Sicily, Canada, the USA and Russia. Besides local experts, participants will have a chance to work with internationally recognized water polo pedagogues. One of them will be Petar Kovačević, Berlin’s Spandau 04 trainer and a participant of the Champions League. The very experienced trainer and former coach of teams such as Partizan, Galatasaray, and Marseilles, started his career in Primorac Kotor as a player. This camp, therefore, brings him back to his roots.
