Macedonia's U16 Water Polo Boys Take First Steps on the Balkan Stage — 'We Are Building Foundations That Will Last'
Fourteen young Macedonian water polo players competed at the first Balkan Games U16 in Thessaloniki. They were younger than their opponents, they were outscored heavily — and they gained something no scoreboard can measure. The Swimming Federation's response tells the whole story.
Fourteen young athletes represented North Macedonia at the inaugural Balkan Games U16 Water Polo Tournament, held from 16 to 19 July 2026 at the Posidonio aquatics complex in Thessaloniki, Greece. Eight nations competed — Greece, Serbia, Montenegro, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Hungary and North Macedonia — in a tournament that was part of the broader International "Alexander the Great" Games.
The results, on the scoreboard, were difficult. But the story behind this squad is anything but.
Andreev, Vlahov, Gjurgjavchevski, Dumikj, Stojanovski, Kostovski, Gorgievski, Kitanov, Ivanovski, Lazarovski, Ristovski, Todorov, Jankovski, Madzovski
Younger Than the Category, Bigger Than the Result
What the scoreboard does not show is this: Macedonia's U16 squad was not actually a U16 squad in the conventional sense. The players selected were two to three years younger than their opponents — a deliberate, strategic decision by the Federation. The goal was not to chase a result at this tournament, but to give these children their first taste of competing against the strongest European representations, so that when it matters most — in two or three years — they will be ready.
These are not naturalised players from Croatia, Serbia or Montenegro. They are boys born, raised and developed in Macedonia. They are the future of Macedonian water polo.
The Federation Speaks: 'Water Polo Was Dead — We Refused to Accept That'
After reactions appeared in the media following the tournament results, the National Swimming Federation published a remarkable statement — one that deserves to be read in full.
The Federation also noted that water polo in Macedonia had been effectively forgotten for more than fifteen years — without continuity, without a clear perspective. In the last three years, the national championship has been revived (it had not been held since 2004), new clubs have been formed, and a generation of domestic players has been built from scratch.
The Federation's statement concluded with a message that resonates beyond water polo: "When someone asks whether we are on the right path, our answer is clear — yes, we are. Not because we are winning today, but because we are finally building foundations that Macedonia has lacked for decades. We know this process requires patience, work and support — but we are certain the results will come."
For the fourteen boys who wore the Macedonian jersey in Thessaloniki this week: the scoreboard was just the beginning of their story.
MKNews Hub · Sport · 21 July 2026