TOWARDS THE END OF THE CUP – ŽAVK Mladost
After introducing the Split women's water polo team, representing the first finalists of this year's Cup, we now turn our attention to their opponents in the fight for the trophy, Zagreb's Mladost, or in full name ŽAVK Mladost.
Known as "Žabice," the Mladost female team is the most successful women's club in our water polo scene with 28 trophies. Over the last 15 years, they have been a dominant force in winning trophies, whether in the national cup or the national championship. Croatian Cup was actually the first trophy won by ŽAVK Mladost (2007/08 season), and a year later they also claimed their first national title. Throughout this time, ŽAVK Mladost has provided at least half of the senior national team.
Mladost players are the only representatives of our clubs who have won trophies in international competitions as well. The Zagreb team were the winners of the first two editions of the Regional League. In the first season (2017/18), they defeated Belgrade's Crvena Zvezda in the final (12:11), and a year later, they defended their title by beating another Belgrade team, Palilula (10:7), for the gold. In the following season, once again Mladost players emerged victorious at the final tournament, facing off against Jadran and the two Belgrade clubs, Crvena Zvezda and Palilula. They triumphed over Palilula (16:15) and Zvezda (17:14), while drawing with Jadran (11:11).
Last season, the Mladost players finished third at the Challenger Cup final tournament, and in 2021, they were the runners-up in the Danube Cup.
Last season, in domestic competitions, they lost the playoff final for the Croatian National Championship title, but they had previously won the national cup, which means they are the defending champions this season. Let's not forget that just a month ago, the Zagreb team convincingly won the historic first Women's Super Cup in our water polo scene, defeating their eternal rivals from Split, the Jadran team. However, on the recent qualifying tournament for this season's Cup final, the Jadran team retaliated with a victory by three goals difference (9:6).
Starting this season, the players of ŽAVK Mladost are under the guidance of a new coach, Zoran Bajić. This excellent strategist, who had previously won 5 trophies with Mladost's men's team and led the Croatian U19 team to victory at the European Championship in Bulgaria this summer, is experiencing his first contact with women's water polo. He began in the best possible way by winning a trophy (the Super Cup) in his first match.
Regarding the squad, the Mladost team has strengthened its competition within the team as Ana Desnica from Šibenik's Viktorija and Karla Ružić from Rijeka's Primorje EB joined the club this summer.
The final of the Croatian Women's Cup will take place in Zagreb on Wednesday, November 27th at a pool located by the Sava River.
Trophies:
– Croatian Championship: 13 (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)
– Croatian Cup: 11 (2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023)
– Super Cup: 1 (2024)
– Regional League: 3 (2018, 2019, 2020)
