Maybe this is the beginning of the end of the regional water polo competition, maybe just a difficulty that clubs in this region have to go through, but what is certain at the beginning of August is that the Regional League, neither the Premier League nor the A1 competition, will be played in the 2025/26 season.
The league is, in fact, “frozen” because no model or competition system has been found that would satisfy all parties – Croatian, Serbian and Montenegrin clubs.
All parties had their own proposals, including those from the Water Polo and Swimming Associations of Montenegro. None of them passed, so it was agreed that regional water polo would simply not be played for the next 12 months.
And everyone is at a loss, probably the most our clubs – Jadran M:tel and Primorac as members of the elite rank, and Budućnost One, Kataro and Budvanska rivijera Budva, which have played in the A1 league so far.

As reported by Sportklub, the Serbs proposed to play tournaments in the league section, which was not accepted by the Croats, who have essentially been advocates of not playing regional competitions next season from the beginning. Hence their proposal to stop the league and discuss its fate again in early 2026, around February after the European Championship in Belgrade ends.
The proposal of the VPSCG was specific – it was requested that the league headquarters be moved to Podgorica, that a new Regional League Board of Directors be established, which would include businessmen. Financial rewards were also mentioned, and not only that… In reality, this is more difficult than in theory, so the proposal quickly failed with the explanation that the league is not attractive for marketing and that in the past 12 years it has only had two sponsors.
There are several factors behind the decision to shut down the league, at least for a year. One is certainly the financial aspect, there is also the complicated competition calendar, but it is clear to everyone that there is a clear message from Croatia (and even from Serbia) that they want to strengthen national competitions.
Montenegrin water polo definitely loses the most from this decision, so it is now up to the people from the Water Polo and Swimming Association to design a competition system that would help the clubs meet their goals, given that the playing staff of all teams has practically been formed.
In addition to domestic competitions, Jadran will certainly also play in the Champions League, Primorac is awaiting qualifications for the elite competition, while Buducnost is making its debut on the international stage and will play in the group stage of the Eurocup.

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