E.ON Ob I: the magic of Szolnok has returned, but what will happen to the Arena?
Szolnoki Dózsa-Praktiker achieved a brilliant victory against BVSC-Manna ABC in the final match of the 8th round of the E.ON Ob I on Sunday, giving significant momentum to the statement issued after the match, demanding that the local government of Szolnok should not withdraw from operating the Water Polo Arena, as closure is inevitable otherwise.
Although it seemed like the spell of Szolnok had been broken, as after the 14-game winning streak, three losses followed against tougher opponents, and it was noticeable that the young team was mostly struggling defensively: during the Euro Cup matches, they conceded 17 goals in Recco and 16 in Zagreb, and in between, Ferencváros scored 21 against them.
They then faced BVSC in the championship, and although the team from Zugló march spectacularly in the European scene - winning all four matches so far and already progressing to the round of 16 - they occasionally stumble at home. Just like in Szolnok this time.
The hosts quickly went up 2-0, and BVSC scored only 28 seconds before the first break. However, a radical change came in the second quarter, with the Budapest team scoring five goals - three in a row. The score was 4-2, then Szolnok responded, but at halftime, the visitors were ahead (6-5).
With Mátyás Mészáros' advantage goal, the lead of the railwaymen doubled, but midway through the quarter, Dozsa equalized in just one minute. The events heated up in the final minutes: Dávid Jansik scored a man-up goal 18 seconds before the buzzer, at 0:08 Szolnok got an advantage, then a double, Lóránd Zerinváry equalized at 0:02 from a five-on-four situation, so the final part started from 8-8.
There was a quick exchange of goals in the fourth, then at 5:40, an acute skirmish following Kristián Bedő's center goal led to double exclusions for Bedő and Dávid Gál, seemingly a bigger loss for the hosts at first sight. However, they did not falter, but rather endured a disadvantage, and then Norman Schmölz scored one for them, putting Szolnok in a 11-9 lead. Zsombor Ekler scored one back, but neither he nor Jansik could find the net from the regained ball in the next man-up. The excitement lasted for four minutes, with Szolnok missing a five-on-six opportunity, until eventually, Gergő Kovács fought for a five-meter penalty with 23 seconds left before the buzzer, and Schmölz sealed Szolnok's victory. It seems that BVSC is still lacking some balance - this time the leading attackers, Dávid Tátrai (6 goals, 0 penalties) and Ákos Konarik (3 goals, 0 penalties), did not perform as they did on better days; a performance that the team could not afford this time. Whereas the Szolnok players bounced back from the bad streak with a great victory, becoming one of the three teams with a 7-0-1 record, BVSC suffered its second defeat in the championship.
The success of Szolnok came at a psychologically crucial moment, thus giving even more weight to the statement released by the club after the match, which we hereby reproduce without modifications:
"The closure of the Water Polo Arena, which is home to the Szolnoki Dózsa water polo adult team and nearly four hundred junior players, could mean that the local government of Szolnok recently informed the sports club management that they will not take over the operation of the Water Polo Arena, which is owned by the municipality, and will not provide any future support for the maintenance of the water polo facility.
This could result in the closure of their third swimming pool by the Municipality, a city that prides itself as the city of waters and water sports.
Currently, the Szolnoki water polo club operationally manages the Water Polo Arena, and the resources needed for operation are covered by state and municipal support. The Hungarian State has significantly supported the municipality in bearing the maintenance costs of the sports facility, but without municipal funding, the maintenance of the Water Polo Arena cannot be guaranteed. The decision-makers of the Municipality are aware that it is not possible to maintain the facility from their own resources. Despite the success of the Szolnoki Water Polo Sport Club in terms of both adult water polo and junior sports, the closure of the Water Polo Arena is inevitable without the support of the municipality.
In a Mayoral letter dated November 28, 2023, the Municipality informed the water polo club that it would take over the operation of the sports facility from January 1, 2024, but ultimately did not keep this promise. The Water Polo Arena has now become the scene of political disputes and broken promises. The Municipality does not wish to operate the Water Polo Arena nor provide support for its operation, thereby making a clear decision affecting the fate of water polo in Szolnok. By withdrawing previous financial support, the Municipality is pushing the Water Polo Arena towards certain closure. This not only jeopardizes the operation of one of the most successful teams in the country, the multiple Hungarian champion and Champions League-winning Szolnoki water polo club, but also leads to the cessation of regional youth sports opportunities.
We thank the Hungarian State for not only supporting junior sports but also helping the Municipality ensure the continuation of the adult water polo club in Szolnok, a club that has helped to elevate our country’s sporting glory.
We hope that the decision-makers of the Municipality will take responsibility for the continuity of the children's sports opportunities and the water polo sports tradition and choose to support the maintenance of the sports facility rather than blame each other. They undoubtedly have the opportunity to take over the operation of the Water Polo Arena at any time, as agreed in their previous statements, or to continue providing the financial support necessary for the maintenance of the facility.
The Municipality has one last chance to decide if they want to save the Water Polo Arena from closure. The Szolnoki water polo club continues to cooperate with the Municipality to ensure that they can continue the unquestionable professional sports work that the Szolnoki water polo club has carried out over the past decades in both adult water polo and junior sports. However, this can only be achieved if the Municipality makes responsible decisions and continues to provide support for the maintenance of the sports facility.
Szolnoki Water Polo Sport Club Ltd."
E.ON Ob I, Round 8
