Perica Bukić in Sportske Novosti
In continuation of our occasional posts or sharing of articles from domestic media related to Croatian water polo, for this occasion, we bring you a great interview with Perica Bukić, the executive vice president of the Croatian Water Polo Federation. The interview was published in Sportske Novosti on November 21, 2024.
The occasion is the 20th anniversary of Perica Bukić assuming the position of HVS president in 2004. Bukić was interviewed by Sportske Novosti journalist, Dean Bauer.
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Twenty years ago Perica Bukić was elected as HVS president, ushering in the revival of this sport since then
During over three decades of state independence, Croatian water polo carries the memory of several special dates. Special days in our water polo chronicle that we remember with pride and highlight as exceptional in their own way. From December 28, 1991, when the Croatian water polo national team played for the first time at a swimming pool by the Sava River in Zagreb, behind darkened windows, during the war. An unofficial match, a meeting of our players from domestic clubs and those playing abroad at the time. Then we must definitely mention the first Olympic final in Atlanta '96, all the Barakuda golds with Rudić, then Tuck, as coaches. The list is long, extensive, but so is our water polo history and wealth. Yet, there is another special date.
– November 21, 2004.
On this date, exactly 20 years ago, Perica Bukić became the president of the Croatian Water Polo Federation. Are we exaggerating? Before the final judgment, think carefully. As you do, we dare to help you with a little reminiscence and citing undisputed facts.
So, twenty years ago, HVS had a president in resignation (Nikola Grabić), the national team didn't have a coach (Zoran Roje resigned after the Athens Olympics, finishing in 10th place), but the national team didn't even have players because many had said "enough, I don't want it anymore." The federation had no money in its account, the headquarters was in Dom sportova, two small rooms overcrowded with files. Croatian water polo had great players back then. We had coaches, clubs, but with weak, sporadic results. The reason? There was no system!
Then a man came with an idea and set off an avalanche. Far from being alone. He had his closest collaborators. Since then and until today - Milivoj Bebić, Zoran Roje, Goran Sukno, Ratko Rudić, Boško Lozica, Renato Živković, Predrag Sloboda, Ivica Tucak, Mladen Drnasin, Ivan Milaković... No one man can create and maintain a system alone, but there is someone who must have a vision first, an idea, then a way of implementation, and the one who pulls the most when it's the toughest.
Perica Bukić has not been the president of HVS all that time. No, he held that position "only" until 2010, and since then has been a vice president, executive director... But it is known that behind every significant decision, action, budgeting, there is Pero, as he is called in water polo circles. Now, the most important, what substantiates marking the 20th anniversary of Bukić's arrival in the top structures of HVS.
In 20 years - 27 medals
In these 20 years, the senior national team has won 27 medals - 3 at the Olympics (all finals, 1 gold), 8 at the World Championships (3 golds), 4 at the European Championships (2 golds), 2 at the FINA Cup, 7 in the World League (1 gold), 2 at the Europa Cup (1 gold), and 1 at the Mediterranean Games (which is gold). For comparison, from 1992 to 2004, only 5 medals were won, all silver.
Some records have been set, such as the 7 consecutive medals in the World Championships, by far the most and ahead of all other countries. In the last four Olympics, Croatia played in the final three times. In 2019, Croatia was the only country that won a medal in all three then-current competitions (Europa Cup in Zagreb, World League in Belgrade, and World Championships in Gwangju). This year, a record was set that no one will ever "break". At all three major competitions (Olympics, World Championships, European Championships), the Barakude played in the final. Moreover, once again in 2024, only Croatia won a medal at every competition that year.
These are just results from the senior national team. Results from the younger age groups are left for another occasion. At the same time, the Croatian Water Polo Federation has gained a respectable international reputation over time in terms of organizing major competitions. Confirmation of this are numerous European and World Championships in the younger age groups (men and women) and three senior European Championships in a span of just 14 years. A special emphasis is placed on the organization of the European Championship in January of this year, after the cancellation in Israeli Netanya, where Dubrovnik and Zagreb “saved the day” on behalf of Europe.
Ratko's legacy
All these facts, and only the golden peak has been mentioned, did not just "fall from the sky," nor were they a matter of inertia. If from 1992 to 2004, 5 medals were won (all silver), and then in 20 years, 27 medals were won, of which 9 were gold, then something obviously significant happened, changed.
– It's a legacy of Ratko (Rudić, ed.) that he instilled in us while we were still players. To my entire generation - Perica Bukić will say when asked if he really imagined all of this back in 2004.
– I believe it was Ratko, the greatest "culprit" of that ambition and dedication we have invested, along with my humble self and a whole series of collaborators, in all these beautiful, wonderful 20 years for Croatian water polo. What we have today was my great wish back then. Nevertheless, I was convinced that we could achieve it. It's hard to say now that I knew we would win so many medals, however, I was sure we could achieve a lot. When I announced in 2004 that the goal of my engagement was to reach the top of the world and stay there, there was a lot of skepticism about it. It was a time when we didn't enter the top 8. We often finished ninth or tenth... The turnaround we made then initiated a completely new concept of how the Federation functions. Of course, the performers are in the pool, the players. But back then, I was also sure that we didn't have a problem with the players. We had excellent coaches, but unfortunately, we didn't have a working system. The coaches then had a limited number of preparation days, they had 1-2 assistants, and with the arrival of Rudić, they maximally professionalized that. His first condition, I remember vividly, was that he had 9 assistants. With him, it was a coaching staff of 10 people! That was something new at the time. For example, the Spanish had a coach, an assistant, and that was it. I remember those times.
Melbourne surprised us
The Italians had a large staff, but that too is Rudić's legacy.
– They did, but for example, the Greeks did not have anywhere near such a big staff. The Hungarians were somewhere in the middle. What was most important, and what we didn't have properly organized, was the organization. First of all, finances. I found the HVS budget to be 200,000 euros. That was 1.4 million kuna back then, for the entire Federation. For comparison, today most of our selections individually are not below that level. The preparation program, sparring, tournaments... which automatically entails the number of coaches, the total number of staff members, equipment... literally everything. The motivation of those players was also questioned back then because if you take away two summer months when they would normally have a break from club water polo, and nothing is achieved, finishing tenth at the World Championships or Olympics, often being publicly criticized, it is clear that they would start thinking, "Wait, why do I need this?" That is what is called the culture of the national team, and that is the system in which everything is arranged. A player is satisfied when the trainings make sense, the hotels are of quality, strong spars, but most importantly, when results are achieved. We can even finish fourth or fifth, but if 3 medals are won in one cycle of 5 competitions, that is the goal. Considering we often won all five. That was my goal, of course, and Ratko's who managed two Olympic cycles brilliantly. Melbourne 2007 surprised us, and that was a turning point. When we won gold at the European Championships in Zagreb, in front of 6-7,000 people, I thought that was irreplaceable at the time, and then two years later we were golden at the London Games. Ratko laid the foundation for that new era of Croatian water polo. After Rudić, Ivica Tucak came, who surely didn't have it easy "stepping into Rudić's shoes." But Tucak, a young coach at the time, already had some serious results behind him with our U-20 national team with which he won the world championship in Šibenik, then with Solaris, and especially with Jadran from Herceg Novi. Besides that, he was Rudić's assistant.
Tucak was suggested by Rudić
Who chose Ivica Tucak as the head coach
– He was appointed by the Executive Committee of the Federation on the recommendation of the Professional Council, but Ratko Rudić was the one who supported him from the very beginning. Tucak had and completely justified the trust of the entire Federation, as well as specifically Rudić. After all, he had been a world champion twice, runner-up in the Olympics twice, European champion, European vice-champion, third in Europe, and world vice champion. He has had a truly fantastic streak, especially in the last two years, from the European Championships and gold in Split in 2022 to this year in 2024 with three finals in three major competitions. Really great, especially when you consider the competition was stronger and more numerous than ever. One example is that this year Hungary did not win any medals. Neither did Greece or Montenegro. The Spaniards thought they would win 3 golds, ended up with 1 gold, one bronze, and in Paris, they were left without a medal. Italy as well... no matter who you compare us with, we are more successful. Our story that began way back in 2004 after the Athens Olympics continues. Additionally, the fact that in 20 years we had only 2 coaches and 3 federation presidents says enough about the continuity and seriousness of what we are doing.
The national team itself is the very cutting edge, and undoubtedly the judgment there is excellent. Are you satisfied with the state of the clubs?
– That may be a bit of a deeper story. The competition today is incomparable to what it was when, for example, I played. It is not easy today to even have the opportunity to compete for a European title. Before, every country would send one club for the Champions League, and that's it. Today, the strongest nations each send three strong teams! It is not easy to succeed, and here's a specific example. Over the last 2-3 years, we have certainly been the most successful in national team competitions, but if we look at the last 7-8 years, it's the Spaniards. They dominate in all age groups, men and women. They are ruling. And now, 90% of their best players play for Barceloneta, which hasn't won the Champions League for a full 10 years, they haven't even made it to the finals. What does that say? That one Pro Recco, Ferencvaros, Olympiacos, Novi Beograd... they are stronger than the Spanish national team. These clubs have their best players plus 4-5 top foreigners. In such a competition, it's not that easy for our clubs to even reach the European champion title. Jug managed to do it twice in the last 20 years, and that's a great success. Last season, we had a Croatian final in the Euro Cup, Primorje against Jug. Club successes are very good and understandably not at the level of the national team. Let alone the budgets of our competitors' clubs abroad, which are extremely large for our standards, while, for example, the budget of Jug, Jadran, or Mladost is smaller than in my playing days. Nonetheless, the situation is also improving there, and it is important for us to have 5 stable environments: Dubrovnik, Split, Šibenik, Zagreb, and Rijeka.
HVS greatly supports the clubs
Sometimes, critics tend to blame HVS for not supporting the clubs more, and not just focusing on the national team.
– In the last few years, HVS has been greatly supporting the clubs. I won't mention numbers, but 30-40% of the total Federation budget goes to support the clubs. Club support has never been close to this level. This was established during the pandemic in all 5 ball sports with us, albeit football is a special case. It is very important to us as a Federation that Jug, Mladost, Jadran, as well as Solaris and Primorje, are stable, and that we, as a Federation, cover their travel costs, accommodation, equipment, coach fees, etc. We don't forget Mornar and Medveščak, nor Zadar, KPK, POŠK, women's clubs... The support from the Federation is truly significant, but could it be more... it could! Of course, we want more and better, but is it heading in the right direction, I think it is. I have to emphasize the full support of Prime Minister Plenković and great cooperation with the Croatian Government, as well as with the Croatian Olympic Committee. Likewise, the city of Zagreb has made a huge leap in sports funding over the last year, as has the Sports Alliance of the City of Zagreb. My great wish is to further help clubs in engaging more coaches and sports professionals. Every serious club should have a director, a sports director, a marketing and media person, and a finance person...
We agree, although it's clear that again that costs a bit, and water polo clubs don't make much money.
– Right, but I'm stating the current situation. If my sports goal 20 years ago was for Croatia to win or compete for a medal at every major competition, now my personal goal is for each of the 6-7 clubs that bring quality to us to become well-organized. That is what I have been focusing on for the past 2-3 years. Personally, I have had conversations with the mayors of Dubrovnik and Split, Šibenik, Zadar, Rijeka, and Zagreb to improve the status of water polo and clubs in those cities.
Too many responsibilities
It would take up a lot of space if we were to just list the duties carried out or still carried out by Perica Bukić (member of parliament, HOO Council, president, and then executive vice president of HVS, Oympians' Club, Sports Association of Zagreb, president of the Regional League, and the latest role as president of the Technical Water Polo Committee or TWPC European Aquatics...). Okay, the results are visible, they exist, but all of this takes time, brings stress, and oh well, the years fly by. It has been confirmed, have you thought about... stopping a bit?
– In June of last year, I had 18 different duties. That's when I told myself, "Alright, let's cut back on that a bit." Now I'm on 10, however, the demand of the duties has increased. This TWPC is truly taking up a lot of my time, like all the others combined, with a very questionable result. Will I manage to achieve something there, we'll see. It is quite a complex system in terms of jurisdiction and responsibility. Given that the HVS is indeed well-organized, for the past year and a half, the Federation has been led by Secretary-General Ivan Milaković, with the help of Marko Erak as the Office Manager. They are doing really well and are becoming increasingly autonomous. I am very happy about that because it's not luck if everything runs smoothly while I'm here, but then "sinks" after me. It is necessary to start thinking about the
