HaBaWaBa was born to expand the boundaries of waterpolo. That’s why it’s a great news that a Polish team will join the HaBaWaBa Plus U13 for the first time: Gorzowski Klub, from Gorzow Wielkopolski town, in the western part of the country. “Coming to Lignano Sabbiadoro will be a useful experience for our kids, they will see with their own eyes how amazing international waterpolo can be”. Those are the words of Michal Diakonow, Arkonia Szczecin’s current goalkeeper and former player of Spanish Matarò, and his father Piotr, coach of 13U team and former waterpolo goalkeeper himself.
“In Poland – Michal said – water polo is not that popular as it is in Italy or in Spain, but it has big potential. By joining HaBaWaBa Plus U13, a great tournament, we want to prove to the kids that waterpolo is a great sport. We want to feed their love for waterpolo”.
At what age do the kids start playing waterpolo in Poland?
Usually around the age of 12, but the players of our team has been playing since they were 8. In Poland there are only 6 clubs working at a youth level, whilst senior-level clubs are 10.
In which towns there are waterpolo teams?
Michal Diakonow, 33
Waterpolo exists in Warsaw, Lodz, Szczecin, Poznan and Bytom, as well as Gorzow, which has a good tradition: Stilon, one of the towns’s teams, won 15 championships in the 1980s and 90s.
What are the main problems that prevent waterpolo from developing?
Waterpolo is not popular, and we do not have many facilities. However in recent years new swimming pools were built thanks to the European Union fundings: Gorzow’s pool, for example, is dated 2002. We have the opportunity to grow up.
How many kids your waterpolo academy has?
We have 80 players, until 18U category. Starting play waterpolo means falling in love with it, the kids want more and more of it. HaBaWaBa Plus U13 can increase the love of the kids for waterpolo. Our 13U team is the strongest in the country: coming to Lignano can let us understand what is their level by comparison with the European youth waterpolo. HaBaWaBa Plus U13 can awaken the fighting spirit of the Gorzowski Klub.
