EL quartet jet out for assignment in Auckland
FOUR East London water polo players are jetting off to New Zealand today to represent the South Africa U18 team at the Fina World Women’s Youth Water Polo Championships in Auckland.
Stirling High school pupils Hanna Muller and Chloe Meecham, Gren’s High school’s Zandre Smit and Ruth Weber, who is homeschooled are part of the 12-person squad to compete in the games.
“This is the best team we could find, these girls are the best that are available, no one has been left behind, and this is a talented team,” coach Brad Rowe said.
“Half of them came to Prague with me last year where we got the silver medal in the EU U17 tournament so I do know a number of them well.”
The Fina champs take place next week from Monday to Sunday, with the Tri-Nations tournament between SA, Australia and New Zealand following straight after.
“The world champs is going to be a very tough tournament, these are professional nations, who have funding and are able to hold training camps and half of them are over there now playing in a warmup tournament, so we have our work cut out for us,” said Rowe.
“But I think the world champs will be a lovely trial run for the girls to prepare for the Tri-Nations. I know it is the wrong way round but traditionally the girls have never won a game against Australia or New Zealand at the Tri-Nations, so I think this time having played five or six games at world champs before we go there, it will put us in the same league as teams who do that.
“So I hope we do very well in the Tri-Nations and if we learn a lot from the world champs we will do very well.”
The Fina Champs sees 16 teams participating and the SA team find themselves in group A, along with the hosts New Zealand, Spain and Russia.
It is a really strong pool and the girls will have to be in top form if they want to push the other three teams.
SA open their tournament against the hosts on Monday next week, they then play Russia on Tuesday and Spain on Wednesday, with their next opponents over the rest of the tournament decided on their results.
“The tournament is really nice for the girls, they all enjoy it and have a lot of fun,” said Rowe.
“It is always a good experience for them to play against the best in the world, it is very good exposure for them.”
SA are scheduled to play at 8.20pm on day one, 6.40pm day two and 5.20pm day three New Zealand time.