With the games of the first game day will this year’s international Alpe Adria waterpolo league start on Saturday, November 10^th. This year eight teams will compete for the title, two more than last year. Newcomers are Triglav Kranj (Slovenia) and Kvarner Opatija (Croatia). They will join founding members Slovan Olimpija Ljubljana, Branik Maribor, Rokava Koper (all Slovenia), WBC Tirol Innsbruck, ASV Wien (both Austria) and Pallanuoto Trieste (Italy). With both newcomers league is going to be more interesting and tighter as first one. Regular season will end at the end of February 2008. Final four tournament will took place on March 7^th and 8^th.

Favorite is hard to decide, than harder because final winner will be decided on final four tournament. Endings like this, considering equality of the teams, are unpredictable. In early stage reigning Slovenian champion and title defender Slovan Olimpija will be in slight advantage. “Dragons” are in full competition rhythm since early September when they played in qualifying round of champions league. Olimpija will suffer great lost because their last year’s captain Blaž Verač moved to Primorje Rijeka (Croatia). Despite of that Olimpija will be one of Slovenian heaviest weapons in the League!

Last year’s defeated finalist Branik is still waiting for their first title. They never taste winning champagne, despite that they played in all three finals – national championship final, national cup final and Alpe Adria league final. For this season’s exams they kept almost all players. Only one who left the team was Marko Jokič, but instead of him his brother Petar returned from the French Montpellier. Great part of the team is also reserved for members of Slovenian youth team that competed in European Youth Olympic Festival. Will combination of experiences and youth enough for first ever title for Branik team?

Team from Slovenian Coast is big question mark for everyone. Their main gain is general sponsor. Last time they had sponsor’s name as part of club’s name they won all their titles – two national championships and one national cup.  Will this season be the same? For answer this question in positive way they signed national team player Erik Bukovac who came back from Italy, also captain from the past Dejan Hajdin returned to the team. Important is that Sandi Mertelj renewed his contract. Beside that they have open spot for enforcement from abroad.

Bunch of problems they are facing in the team of Triglav. Last year they refused to come to Alpe Adria League. Later in the season they failed to play in the championship final and lost their title. They are facing financial problems and lack of players. Tomaž Mihelčič moved to Saudi Arabia and might come back. But legends of Kranj’s and Slovenian waterpolo Primož Troppan and Žiga Balderman are lost for ever. They decided to end their careers. Same decision took young goalkeeper Miha Vreček, attacker Klemen Podvršček and maybe someone else too. Also Coach Aleš Komelj had an offer from Turkey. Finaly he stayed in Kranj and is facing renewal of the team with many youngsters. Now they will have a chance to show what are they made from!

ASV Wien was the best no Slovenian team in first year of Alpe Adria league. They were, mostly because of their Croatian players, equal to Slovenian teams and serious pretender to the throne. Under leadership of Serbian coach Žarko Jeremič they want to the final four again. This year it will be much heavier because of tougher competition.

Another Austrian team in the league is WBC Tirol from Innsbruck. Last year they finished at the bottom of the table. But latter on in the season they enforced the team with Slovakian and Hungarian players and won national title. With the team like this they could be more important part in the Alpe Adria league also this year.

Only Italian team in the league, despite great interes of other clubs, is going to be again Pallanuoto Trieste. Last year they suffered some unlucky defeats and lost fight with ASV Wien for final four. But they won one title, Aaron Giorgi was, together with Marko Draganič from ASV Wien, best scorer of the league. Giorgi is going to be one of the most important players also this year. To keep final four wishes alive they signed Montenegrian Predrag Matijaševič and Hungarian David Temesvari.
Beside Triglav from Kranj, another newcomer in the league is Kvarner. Team from Opatija will also be first Croatian club in tje league. Team of Kvarner used to play important role in ex-Yugoslavian an dlater Croatian waterpolo. Now they are rising again and at the moment they are playing in second division. They have solid team of experienced players. Their most outstanding player is goalkeeper Danijel Liber, who played also in Koper in early nineties. Blue and yellow cap also wear Goran Sabljič in last season. Beside them there are some other names, known mostly from Primorje Rijeka. With them Kvarner is for sure going to fight for top positions.

Grega Košir