Victoria Chamorro will of course be at the water polo cup final at the weekend, which takes place as a double event for women and men. The goalkeeper took part in the 2016 Olympic Games for Brazil and played a major role in helping the Wasserfreunde Spandau 04 women’s team to take home three titles last season.
The problem for water enthusiasts: Victoria Chamorro no longer plays for, but against Spandau. Your new club will probably also be the biggest competitor in the battle for the cup in the Schöneberg swimming pool – Bayer Uerdingen.
“This is a major weakening for us and a great strengthening for Uerdingen,” says coach Marko Stamm. He would have loved to see the 24-year-old on his team, “but we didn’t want to stand in the way of her private happiness. In such cases, sport takes second place. ”Chamorro is in a relationship with national player Ben Reibel, who also played for the water lovers until spring. Then Reibel, who was once active for Uerdingen, asked for his contract to be terminated and joined the ASC Duisburg.
Duisburg, Krefeld, a short distance, Chamorro can also continue her studies there – the water lovers lose one of the top performers. But the club has not been idle during the long coronavirus break, has signed two goalkeepers, among other things: the highly talented Anastasiia Smykova from Kirischi in Russia and the experienced Anja Oldenburg from ETV Hamburg.
In addition, with Nadine Hartwig (also from ETV) and Emma Koch from Nikar Heidelberg, there are two young players with national team experience that Stamm absolutely wanted to bring.
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The team, which has only been around since the 2018/19 season, has so far won all the titles that were possible at national level. Stamm is in good spirits that it will continue like this: “Overall, we are even stronger than before the break. We are better positioned, especially across the board.” Before the break in March, Spandau had confidently led the league. Against last year’s final opponent Uerdingen there was a 17: 6 victory.
Further reinforcements are to come
In addition to Victoria Chamorro, Bayer now also has Barbara Bujka, who became European champion with Hungary in 2016. “It is definitely not as clear as it was before. But I still see us as favorites, ”said Stamm. For the continuation of the Bundesliga season, which was canceled in the spring, he announced three more “top-class reinforcements”.
Cup victory with the women, that’s the root of a project for the weekend. Cup victory with the men is the other. The 32-year-old changes from the pool edge to the water, he is the captain of the men’s team. It only happened once that a club won both trophies: Bayer Uerdingen, 2016, at that time, however, the title was subsequently revoked because of the use of a suspended player.
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The balance of power among men has recently shifted towards Waspo Hannover. Waspo won the cup three times in a row and the German championship in 2018 and two and a half weeks ago. “We have provided enough development aid for Hanover. Now it’s our turn again, “says Stamm and sees the big picture:” We are ready for the double cup victory. ”
A small advantage could be the event in the hall, because Spandau had problems with the general conditions at the away games in the outdoor pool. Waspo took a break after the decisive victory in the championship and has been training in the hall ever since. “It will depend on the form of the day again,” says Stamm, but: “In our hall we won two out of three games against Waspo this season.”
Because of Corona, things are different than usual: Only 180 spectators are allowed per day, the players party is canceled. But there would be a small victory celebration as far as allowed. “We’re not planning that. We do that spontaneously, ”says Stamm. Just like in 2019, when women and men became champions. There was actually only a short stopover planned at the “Ketchup 35” snack bar in Britz. In the end, the party went there until late at night.
On Saturday at 1.45 p.m., Spandau’s women will meet Nikar Heidelberg in the semi-finals in the Schöneberg swimming pool, and at 3.30 p.m. Waspo Hannover will play Bayer Uerdingen. For the men, Waspo will play against OSC Potsdam (5.15 p.m.) and Spandau against ASC Duisburg (7 p.m.). On Sunday are the games for third place and the finals (from 10 a.m.).
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