Scoring Goals asks Serbian sports journalist Dejan Stevovic what his thoughts are on Serbia’s triple Olympic gold from Paris last month and the men’s competition from his position as a respected water polo commentator.
Dejan Stevovic has been on the inside of Serbian water polo for decades and has an incredible wealth of knowledge from his five Olympic Games, 13 World Championships, 14 European Championships, 15 World Leagues and five World Cups.
Born in 1959, he graduated from the Faculty of Law and worked as a correspondent from Belgrade for the Zagreb newspaper Sportske Novosti from 1979 to 1990. He followed a large number of sports, but very rarely water polo. In September 1990, he started working at the Sports Journal, where he held various editorial positions.
“I have worked in water polo with several other sports since 1990 until I retired in 2021. As a pensioner, I work for the Sportklub portal, for the most up-to-date daily newspaper in the Balkans, Politika, and for the website of the Water Polo Association of Serbia,” he said.
One memory stands out for Stevovic, more than any other. “I was certainly the happiest in Rio 2016. I really wanted to write about Serbia's gold, and an unforgettable moment was when Andrija Prlainovic put the gold medal around my neck in the mixed zone (pictured above).”
He has written about the greats of Serbian water polo — Igor Milanovic, Aleksandar Sostar, Vladimir Vujasinovic, Vanja Udovicic, Filip Filipovic, Andrija Prlainovic, Dusko Pijetlovic and more recently Dusan Mandic, Nikola Jaksic and Milos Cuk. “A series without end,” he puts it.
The third consecutive Olympic gold was a surprise for everyone, he said. “We were hoping for a medal; only the players and coaches believed in gold. Head coach Uros Stevanovic finally put together the team he wanted and did an excellent job. He decided to bring back Cuk and Nikola Dedovic, and that was a great move. The team was made up of players who believed in themselves, had a huge motive and in the end they deservedly succeeded.”
Serbia has a proud record in water polo and leads the nation as the most trophy-winning team sport. Winning another gold medal will reap benefits and some of the problems in the past will be resolved.
“The most important are the work with the younger categories; the return of coaches from abroad; greater support from the state, especially when it is known that Serbia is the host of the next European Water Polo Championships.
“We hope that Serbia will then have a new swimming pool complex. To strengthen the clubs in every aspect is very important.”
Stevovic reflects on the year of Paris Olympics Most Valuable Player Dusan Mandic who had a crisis year in 2023 when he left New Belgrade.
“Luckily, he found himself in Ferencvaros (in Hungary). He had an impressive year and will surely be the MVP for 2024, having been the top player and scorer of the Final Four Champions League and the Olympics. He completely matured as a person and a player; he was a scorer and when he was covered, he expertly opened the space for other players.
“With three golds and one bronze, he belongs only to the cream of the world water polo, he is one of the best players in history.”
He also pointed out other players worthy of mention. “Strahinja Rasovic was the best scorer at the World Championships in Fukuoka 2023. Now he didn't stand out with goals, but he showed other qualities with assists and great defensive play. Other great players were Dedovic, Cuk, Viktor Rasovic, Nemanja Vico, Sava Randjelovic and goalkeeper Radoslav Filipovic... They all gave their best, they represented the machine without fail.”
For the last three Olympic Games, incredibly, Serbia has qualified for the quarterfinals in fourth position in its group.
“It was the Serbian model that reached the gold. In Serbia, everyone knows that the most important thing is to get to the quarterfinals, and there is no opponent there that cannot be beaten. It wasn't easy after the defeats against Australia and Spain, but the match against France gave hope and everything was much better after that.
“In the quarterfinals, Greece was the only opponent that Serbia did not want. Greece was far better in the previous few meetings. This time, Serbia was better, had a bit of luck in the last seconds, but the victory was deserved.
“Serbia is better than USA, the fantastic defence decided. Croatia is Serbia's toughest opponent, but there was no doubt in the final. From start to finish, Serbia was much better than the world champions.”
The new era of Serbian super stars looks set to reign for some time, says Stevovic.
“Who will say goodbye? It's hard to say now. Stevanovic will talk to all the players. The oldest will be Cuk at the age of 34. I don't think most of the team will change.
“Goalkeeper Dimitrije Risticevic, centre Dorde Lazic, forwards Nikola Lukic and Marko Radulovic as well as Vuk Milojevic were also at the preparations. Due to injury, Dorde Vucinic was not present. Besides them, Vasilije Martinovic, Luka Gladovic, Marko Dimitrijevic, Bogdan Gavrilovic, Luka Pljevancic will certainly get a chance, and the talented Strahinja Krstic — MVP at this year's U18 world championships — is coming. However, this is just my opinion, as Stevanovic will make the final decision.
On his overall thoughts of the quality of the competition in Paris, he said he expected a better level, but there were quality matches.
“I think the period July 2023-August 2024 was difficult for European teams. There were as many as five competitions in addition to the Champions League, and the fatigue had to be felt. This was used by the United States of America and Australia, who presented themselves in the best light.
“It is very important that USA and Australia continue to progress. I think USA in Los Angeles will be a contender for a new medal. Dejan Udovicic (above) is doing an excellent job. Perhaps some rule changes regarding the speed of play could contribute to a more interesting water polo. However, I believe that despite the change of generations, the European national teams will continue to hold primacy.
Stevovic points to getting into the heads of players when it mattered.
“For the first time, the Serbian team included sports psychologist Andrija Geric. He's an Olympic volleyball gold medallist from Sydney who has done a great job. The players also emphasised the advice of (tennis star) Novak Djokovic, who was their guest during the tournament, and say that after that meeting, everything was different.
“Serbia can be proud of three consecutive Olympic gold medals, but also five medals at all Olympic Games since it started to compete independently. Don't forget, we don't have a sea,” he said of the landlocked country.
Stevovic must be commended on his journalistic skills.
“I am proud of three books about water polo: "Serbia, I think a medal", "Unrepeatable" and "The First 100" about water polo in Serbia, written with the famous golden Olympian from Mexico Djordje Perišić. I am the author of the TV series "Golden Caps" about 17 gold medals from Yugoslavia, Serbia and Serbia & Montenegro. I am now preparing the 18th episode about gold in Paris.”