“There’s a strong intrigue in the fight for silver and bronze in the Super League. I believe fans will witness a real water polo spectacle in the final round,” — Oleksandr Svishchov, President of the Ukrainian Water Polo Federation.
In an exclusive interview with the Media Center of the Ukrainian Water Polo Federation, Oleksandr Svishchov shared his impressions of the 5th round of the Men’s Super League and talked about what to expect from the final stretch and national team goals.
🔥 The medal race is wide open
According to Svishchov, the recent tournament in Lviv intensified the competition:
“‘Aquatico’ pleasantly surprised everyone — two wins over key rivals added drama. Silver and bronze medals will be decided only in the last round.”
He also highlighted the progress of teams in the lower bracket:
“KIVS and the Kyiv team showed quality play. Lviv won three matches, while Kyiv, despite finishing without points, has shown notable improvement. Many of their players are currently serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine — we are proud of them.”
🏆 Final round and national ambitions
The final rounds of both men’s and women’s leagues are ahead. Svishchov stresses that these games matter not only for medals but also for building momentum ahead of the European Championship 2026 qualifiers.
“We will organize training camps for both national teams after the season. Our goal is to prepare at the highest level.”
The women’s team will face Serbia, Switzerland, and Finland — a tough group. But with Mykhailo Lebediev as head coach, there’s confidence in their work.
The men’s group (France, Malta, Portugal) is also competitive:
“The men’s team must qualify. We’ve been close before. Now is the time to break that trend. Our legionnaires bring international experience — they must drive the national team forward. Representing Ukraine is a great honor and responsibility.”
💙💛 Water polo is character and unity
Svishchov wrapped up the interview by connecting the fight in the pool with Ukraine’s broader struggle:
“Our team must be one unit. Ukraine has fought for its freedom for three years — that spirit must inspire every match.”
