Total-waterpolo-blog-logo-238×48Total-waterpolo-blog-logo-retina-104×96Total-waterpolo-blog-logo-238×48Total-waterpolo-blog-logo-238×48
  • News
  • CroMasters 2024
  • SHOP NOW
  • Livescore
    • Champions League
      • Champions League 2023/24
      • Women’s Champions League 2023/24
      • Champions League 2022/23
    • AUSTRIA 🇦🇹
      • Bundesliga Women
      • Bundesliga Men
      • Supercup
      • Cup
      • Regionalliga Ost
      • U-21 Women
      • U-19
      • U-17
      • U-15
      • U-13
      • U-12
      • U-11
    • SLOVENIA 🇸🇮
      • Slovenian championship 2022/23
      • Slovenian Cup 2022/23
    • Nordic League
      • Nordic league 2022/23
      • Nordic League 2021/22
      • Nordic Women’s League 2022
    • Alpe Waterpolo League
    • BWIPA
      • Next Generation 2023 – Men
      • Next Generation 2023 – Women
      • Barcelona Masters Cup
        • 30+ Women
        • 40+ Women
        • 30+ Men
        • 40+ Men
        • 50+ Men
      • HaBaWaBa Spain Plus
      • HaBaWaBa Easter U12
      • HaBaWaBa Easter U10
    • Tournaments
      • Herceg Novi Masters 2023 “30+”
      • Herceg Novi Masters 2023 “40+”
      • Budva Masters 2023
      • Duisburg 98 Cup 2023
      • Tintilinić 2023
      • Ruhr Games 2023
      • Sunčana Kapica 2023
      • Total Waterpolo Trophy U-15
      • Montenegro Cup 2022 (U16)
  • National
    • Hungarian League
    • French League
    • Spanish League
  • International
    • Tokyo 2020 Olympic Water Polo
    • World Championships
      • Fukuoka 2023
        • Fukuoka 2023 Men
        • Fukuoka 2023 Women
      • WC U20 Men 2023 – Romania
      • Budapest 2022 Men
      • Budapest 2022 Women
      • Gwangju 2019
      • Budapest 2017
    • European Championships
      • Split 2022 Men
      • Split 2022 Women
      • Budapest 2020
      • Barcelona 2018
    • Other
      • World Cup 2023
      • WL Belgrade 2019
      • World Cup – Berlin 2018
      • Junior WC Prague 2021
      • Junior EC Podgorica 2022
  • Total Player Award
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
✕

Regional League: Can someone dethrone Novi Beograd?

October 5, 2022

Pnogo by VK Novi Beograd/Djordje Kostic

А new season – a new format. The Premier Regional League starts on Thursday according to the new competition formula.

As in the last season and in the season 2020/21, the league will be played throughout the tournament, but with a modified system. In the first phase, the teams are split into four groups, and then they will “cross” each other until they all play 11 rounds.

The composition of the league remained almost the same as it was in the ast season when 13 teams participated. Budva, which was ranked 13th and was relegated, is missing compared to the 2021/22 Regional League. However, no one from A1 advanced to the Premier League. Sabac and Mornar, which struggled to keep their places in the Premier League beat the best teams of the A1 league in the relegation playoffs.

Novi Beograd stronger than last year

Reigning champion Novi Beograd stands out as the favorite for the title. Last season, the Belgrade-based new water polo powerhouse had ups and downs in its debut in the Regional League. But, as the season was approaching an end, they reached the peak of their form. They won 1st place in the regular part of the season, thus hosting the Final Four, where they won the trophy.

It seems that Novi Beograd is an even more serious favorite this season than last. The team has been strengthened, and the biggest rivals of Novi Beograd are of similar quality as last year. Moreover, some of the rivals were left without key players during the transfer window.

The biggest reinforcements of New Belgrade, which has been led by new coach Zivko Gocic, are certainly Alvaro Granados, world champion, and Dimitrios Skoumpakis, Olympic silver medalist. The newcomers are goalkeeper Radoslav Filipović and center Savo Cetković. Novi Beograd beat Partizan, Noisy- le-Sec, Szolnok and Ferencvaros at the “Vlaho Bata Orlić” memorial tournament, and the new players showed that they fit into the system.

Dusko Pijetlovic (Novi Beograd), MVP of the 2022 Final Four Photo by VK Novi Beograd/Slobodan Sandic

Jadran, Jug, Radnicki

Last year, 2nd place was won by Jadran  Split, the vice-champion of Croatia. During the transfer window, left-handed Konstantinon Kharkov left the club, but Jadran kept the other key players and brought in several reinforcements. Many of them enter the new season with the confidence of winning the European title as members of the Croatian national team. Last year, Jadran began the process of returning to the top of Croatian and European water polo, and it is to be expected that the club’s ambitions are high.

Jerko Marinic Kragic (Jadran S) Photo: Total Waterpolo

Jug Dubrovnik, the bronze medalist last season and champion of Croatia, was weakened during the summer as Hrvoje Benic, Greek aces Stylianos Argiropoulos and Alexandros Papanastasiu departed from the club. All three were among the leaders of the play. However, a large number of experienced aces, led by Croatian water polo legend Maro Jokovic, stayed in Dubrovnik. Newcomers need to prove themselves.

Maro Joković(Jug) Photo by Dj.Kostic/VK Novi Beograd

Radnički from Kragujevac did not change its roster much. The most significant reinforcement is Nemanja Vico. The fact that the Kragujevac team has been together for several years and has had no significant changes in the team is Radnicki’s advantage, especially at the beginning of the season. At least a place in the Final Four is expected from Radnicki.

Miloš Ćuk (Radnički) Photo KVK Radnički

Others are in shadow, but…

Last year, fifth place was won by Jadran from Herceg Novi. The champion of Montenegro enters the new season with a rejuvenated team but capable of surprising the favorites. Good performances at the start of the Champions League qualifiers are encouraging.

Djuro Radovic (Jadran) Photo by Jadran HN/Vuk Ilic

Crvena Zvezda, which finished sixth last season, made a couple of changes in their lineup. It seems that the team is at a similar level as last year, so it is quite certain that the Red Whites will target a place in the upper part of the table.

Zvezda’s big local rival, Partizan, faced a mass exodus of players during the summer. Even 11 players left the club. However, at the preparatory tournaments in Novi Sad and Belgrade, the new Partizan squad displayed good performances and showed that it wouldn’t be an underdog. If they continue progressing, the Black Whites will be among the serious candidates for the semi-finals, maybe not this season, but in the next season, they could be among the best teams, for sure.

Two of the many former European champions that play in the Premier League – Primorac from Kotor and Mladost from Zagreb took eighth and ninth place last season. The team from Zagreb, with the new leadership, has high long-term goals. This season is a new beginning, and participation in the Regional League should show how close those lofty goals are. The start of the season was quite solid. Mladost won first place in the qualification group of the Champions League. Truth be told, Mladost had only one big rival – the home team Jadran from Herceg Novi, but thanks to good defense, they won that game too (9:7).

Primorac was in a big crisis for several years, but it is slowly getting back on track. Primorac, like Mladost and Jadran, took part in the Champions League qualifiers last weekend. They won second place behind a high-quality team of Vasas, but a very good game against the Hungarian club, promises that the favorites in the Regional League will not have easy tasks against Primorac.

Former Serbian champion Sabac, Solaris Sibenik and Mornar Split battled to avoid relegation until the very end last season. Sabac renewed the team, brought in several reinforcements, and kept the player of the Serbian national team Ognjen Stojanovic, so they probably won’t fear for survival this season. Sabac played very good games in the preliminary games and avoiding relegation isn’t the club’s primary goal…
Mornar did not start well this season – with a convincing defeat against Jug in the first round of the Croatian Championship (4:16). Solaris has yet to show its capabilities, but both teams will likely play better and better as the season will approach an end.

First stage (October 6 – 9, schedule)

Group A (Herceg Novi)
Participating clubs: Jug AO, Jadran HN, Primorac.

Thursday, October 6: Jug – Primorac (19:00)
Friday, October 7: Jadran HN – Jug (19:00)
Saturday, October 8: Primorac – Jadran HN (19:00)

Group B (Split)
Participating clubs: Jadran S, Solaris, Mornar

Thursday, October 6: Solaris – Mornar (20:00)
Friday, October 7: Jadran S – Solaris (20:00)
Saturday, October 8:Mornar – Jadran S (12:00)


Group C (Beograd)
Participating clubs: Novi Beograd, Mladost, Sabac

Friday, October 7: Mladost – Sabac (21:15)
Saturday, October 8: Novi Beograd – Mladost (19:45)
Sunday, October 9: Sabac – Novi Beograd (09:45)

Group D (Kragujevac)
Participating clubs: Radnicki, Crvena Zvezda, Partizan

Friday, October 7: Crvena Zvezda – Radnicki (19:00)
Saturday, October 8:Partizan – Crvena Zvezda (19:00)
Sunday, October 9: Radnicki – Partizan (19:00)

The full calendar and competition formula is HERE.

All articles about the Regional League

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Ivan Curcic
Ivan Curcic

Related posts

Olympiacos' defense Photo by Laszlo Balogh/Total Waterpolo

September 25, 2023

Champions League begins: Big game of week takes place in Piraeus


Read more

Photo: Vasas Vizilabda/FB

September 24, 2023

Primorac, Hannover, Telimar and Panionios take last spots in Euro Cup Top 16


Read more
September 24, 2023

Women’s Champions League: Mulhouse on fire and Five Spanish clubs reach main round


Read more

Featured Projects

01 - 06 July, 2024 - Limited Availability

Book NowLearn More

SUPPORT US ON PATREON

If you share our passion for water polo worldwide, consider becoming a cherished contributor to our cause, with as little as 5$/month.

SUPPORT US

Learn More

Custom Team Gear

LEARN MORE

Shop Now

Looking for something?

✕
  • 0
    Champions League begins: Big game of week takes place in Piraeus
    September 25, 2023
  • 0
    Primorac, Hannover, Telimar and Panionios take last spots in Euro Cup Top 16
    September 24, 2023
  • 0
    Women’s Champions League: Mulhouse on fire and Five Spanish clubs reach main round
    September 24, 2023
  • Home
  • Water Polo News
  • WearWaterpolo Shop
  • Contact Us
  • Project Superstar – TW Camp
  • BIWPA
  • Custom Team Equipment
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
© 2021 Total Waterpolo. All Rights Reserved.
Total Waterpolo Arena

We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience and provide personalized content. By clicking "Accept All Cookies" or continuing to browse this website, you consent to the use of cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT