The performance of the South African water polo team was not phenomenal in the World Aquatics Championships in Doha. The men’s team of the nation stood in 15th position. On the other hand, the women’s South African team claimed the 14th position. Still, being the only African side of the event, they received their Paris Olympics 2024 ticket from Doha. 

But soon, a dismantling situation shattered the South African team members’ dream of participating in Paris. Swimming South Africa remained at the center as they decided not to send their team to the Paris Olympics 2024. However, the embroiling state has everyone’s words in it. 

The saga of claiming the Paris 2024 berth and losing it a few days after 

Just after Doha Aquatics’s conclusion on February 18, the South African national water polo sides came to know that they were not participating in the Paris Olympics. In much obscurity, they learned about it from the Canadian national side’s social media update. After SA teams move out, they are ultimately on the profiteering side to get the berth. However, as Daily Maverick posted about the withdrawal news, they questioned the SSA CEO about the contributing reason. “For us to accept a continental slot, they had to achieve a top-12 ranking [at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha] and they did not achieve a top 12 ranking,” Shaun Adriaanse lamented. But that justification was not enough. 

In the Tokyo Olympics, the SA women’s water polo team came in 10th position. And the men’s team earned the 12th position. The performance of both teams was proverbial, as it was almost their first occasion. Moreover, in 2023 Fukuoka Aquatics, the women’s team claimed the 12th position. So since then, the SSA board set the benchmark of 12th position for its national water polo teams to have a nod for them for the Paris Olympics. However, that justification seemed to be outlandish for the players on the sides. Ultimately, they had a word to share about it. 

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The authorities cry foul while players demand justifications

In a further investigation of Daily Maverick, a team member from the SA Water polo side disbursed some loathing scenarios of the authority. As per that player, the squads just had one training camp together after Fukuoka. Moreover, that training camp in Gqeberha worked as the ultimate selection camp. So, the gelling between players was not in place. To extend the pain, the final team selection came just two weeks before the Doha Aquatics. And after that, the squads only had one training season together. 

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The lackadaisical approach was there in Doha as well. The teams did not receive enough support from the SSA authority. “It was like being set up to fail,” the player cried. Now, after losing the berth, the players have nowhere to go to register their complaints. That fiasco penned an agonizing end of dreams. 

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