For the first time in the history of Latvia, the captain of the Latvian U-17 national team, water polo player Nikita Paško has become a professional water polo athlete and will be a player of the Romanian team "Dinamo Bucharest".
On September 25, the European Aquatics Federation approved Nikita's transfer to the Romanian vice-champion team "Dinamo Bucharest", which is the country's most titled club - it has become national champions 32 times! Nikita will play in both U18 and U20 age teams in the club.
Until now, the seventeen-year-old N. Paško represented the water polo team "Riga Sharks " and was part of the Latvian national team in several international tournaments. As the captain of the Latvian U-17 national team, Paško was the 3rd most productive player of the EU Nations Junior Men Tournament with 22 goals scored. He also holds the title of Latvia's best goal scorer.
"It is the biggest event in the history of Latvian water polo. Continuing his career in Romania opens up wide opportunities for Nikita. He has always been a leader in the team - very skilled, purposeful, determined to work both in training and outside of it," says Reinis Pavars, head of the water polo club "Riga S harks".
Before being confirmed in the new team N. Pashko went to Romania for physical and health tests. The competition was fierce as the team aims to return to Romanian champions status.
"The offer was quite unexpected because the beginning was difficult. That's why I'm especially happy now that I'm one of the team leaders. The conditions are very good, everything necessary is provided for the team to be able to show the best performance. The atmosphere is great - teammates are supportive, helpful and welcoming. The team all have a common goal, while my personal goal is to join the adult team," shares Nikita Paško with her new experience.
Mihails Galuška, head of the Water Polo Committee of the Latvian Swimming Federation, says that the transfer of a Latvian athlete to a professional foreign club is at the same time a message that the development of water polo in Latvia is on the right track. Although there is a lack of suitable infrastructure - swimming pools - for water polo in Latvia, almost 200 athletes in different age groups are engaged in it. Swimming training takes place in Riga and Jelgava, while "ball" training with goals takes place only in the Ziepniekkals swimming pool and a little in Ķipsala.
"We believe that Nikita's individual achievement will inspire other young athletes and in the future we will have to be able to prepare not one such player in 10 years, but 10 players every year. And then the achievements of the Latvian national team will become a reality," M. Galuška looks to the future with hope.
The Latvian Swimming Federation (LPF) is the only sports organization representing swimming sports recognized by the International Swimming Federation (World Aquatics) and the European Swimming Federation (European Aquatics) in Latvia. It is responsible for the development of five Olympic sports - swimming, open water swimming, diving, water polo and artistic swimming - in the country.
Since 2014, the Latvian Water Polo Federation is a licensed member of the LPF in the form of water polo, which is engaged in the development of the club "Riga Sharks" and the sport of water polo in Latvia.
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