Elevate Water Polo’s two under-23 squads have arrived safely in Europe after being forced to reroute their travel plans due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The touring group adjusted their original flight paths, but both teams have now reached their respective destinations in Spain and England ahead of this weekend’s prestigious Nordic League tournaments.
Elevate has sent 28 of South Africa’s top emerging players to compete in a dual campaign across the Canary Islands and the United Kingdom.
The Elevate men’s team will compete in Tenerife, where they face Irish side Leinster, hosts Tenerife (Spain) and Romanian outfit Oradea in a demanding round of fixtures. At the same time, the Elevate women’s team will take to the pool in Manchester against De Ham of the Netherlands, City of Manchester (UK) and Sweden’s Järfälla.
The tour represents the culmination of months of preparation for athletes who have balanced high-performance training with university studies and work commitments. For many, the opportunity to compete abroad has required significant personal and financial sacrifice.
Elevate’s leadership believes the initiative plays a critical role in addressing what it describes as the “post-school gap” in South African water polo, where many gifted players drop out of the sport.
“Too often, incredible talent fades away after high school because the competitive pathways disappear," explained Duncan Woods, Head of Performance at Elevate.
"By taking these under-23 teams to the Nordic League, we are keeping water polo vibrant and professional for young adults. We are showing that there is a high-performance life for the sport beyond the school gates."
The 14-player squads were selected following extensive monitoring across major domestic events, including last year’s Gauteng Invitational Tournament, the SAWP Winter Series, the Cape Town Invitational and the USSA Tournament. The Nordic League provides an opportunity to test that talent against established European opposition and expose players to different tactical and technical demands.
The men’s tournament in Tenerife kicks off on Friday, 6 March at 8pm local time and runs until Sunday, 8 March. The women’s tournament takes place from Saturday, 7 March from 9am to 7:30pm local time to Sunday, 8 March from 9am to 2pm at the Manchester Aquatics Centre.
The full streaming schedule can be found on the Elevate Instagram account and the website.