How S'pore can be among Asia's best

Singapore has the capability of going toe to toe with Asian water polo powerhouses such as China, Japan and Kazakhstan.

But the Republic would have to improve on its coaches' education as well as introduce more high-quality senior competitions.

Those are the views of 1984 and 1988 Serbian Olympic gold medallist Igor Milanovic, who is in town at the invitation of Samson Tan, Singapore Water Polo's (SWP) chief of player development.

"First of all, the coaches must work very hard and push themselves to find the best way to utilise 100 per cent of each training session, so that it makes life easier for them during games," said the 48-year-old Partizan Belgrade coach, who gave the local fraternity some pointers at Toa Payoh swimming pool yesterday morning before attending the National Schools' Boys' B Division final in the afternoon.

TRAINING CAMP

"They should also be watching and analysing games, and talking to more people like myself who know more than them. That's how they can improve as coaches."

Late last year, the two-time World Cup winner personally guided a group of 10 Singapore water polo boys on the finer points of the game when Tan took them to Partizan for a 10-day training camp.

Milanovic, who will visit Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) and the National University of Singapore today before flying home tomorrow, added that Singapore needs to start a "serious local competition with at least three clubs" to grow the sport.

SWP's technical chief Tan Hong Boon revealed that there are plans to set up a semi-pro competition here, perhaps with three teams as a start, but the federation is working out the logistical details.

Singapore enjoyed dominance in the sport in the region, winning the gold medal at 25 straight South-east Asia Games.

But their efforts to rise to the next level have been hampered by the fact that the players train and compete while juggling studies, work, or National Service.

In contrast, countries such as Serbia and Croatia are among the top teams in the world because they have their own professional leagues, where investments and top-grade competition make them a cut above the rest.

Milanovic believes the Republic can rub shoulders with the best in Asia if national players get some "benefits" while serving NS, with the recent change in the sport's rules - some of which reduced the physicality of the game - also giving the weaker countries a shot in the arm.

A major rule change prohibits a player from impeding the movement of an opponent who is not holding the ball, with the offending player to be excluded for the play.

"In the last 10 years, water polo had been such a tough, ugly game. I like the last change - it promotes technique, not aggression," said Milanovic.

"The gap (between traditional powerhouses and Asia) will be closer with the new rules."

Tan thanked Milanovic for sharing his expertise with local coaches and players.

He said: "When we were in Dubai with the national team last year (on a training tour), we attended his coaching clinic and what struck us most was that he made so much sense in the first five minutes.

"To him, water polo is not just about size and force, it's also ballet to him... and Sam(son) went a step further to engage him personally.

"His visit can only be good for Singapore water polo."

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