RADNIČKI KEEPS GOING: Boris Vapenski to Join Kragujevac in January
The water polo team Radnički from Kragujevac has received another significant reinforcement in the form of experienced international player, Boris Vapenski (34), who after 10 years abroad is returning to Serbian club water polo. He has signed a contract with the Kragujevac team for three and a half years, which is not very common in water polo, but it is certainly a confirmation of the high ambitions and long-term plans of the Šumadinac team.
Unlike Andrija Prlainović, Nikola Dedović, and Sava Ranđelović, who will arrive in the city on the Lepenica River in summer, the left-handed forward will make himself available to coach Uroš Stevanović right at the start of preparations for the second part of the season, in January.
Vapenski has emerged from Novi Sad's Vojvodina and later won the Champions League with Crvena Zvezda, following which he had an outstanding role abroad with Hungarian Eger, Ortigia, and Brescia from Italy, as well as two spells at the Georgian Dinamo Tbilisi.
He competed for Serbia's national team at the European Championship in Zagreb in 2010, where the "dolphins" secured bronze. With the national team, he also has two golds and a bronze from the World League, gold from the World Cup, and gold and two bronzes from the Universiade. However, he is coming to Radnički as a representative of Georgia, as he did not manage to secure a place in the biggest competitions due to tough competition with players like Filip Filipović and Dušan Mandić. That's why he obtained Georgian citizenship in 2020.
– Radnički has put together a serious project. I saw the potential, felt the project, as did everyone in the club, and decided to accept the offer. I believe that a true Serbian story can be created and I want to be a part of it. I expect great results, which is one of the reasons I came. I like the project, my teammates are top athletes, and I can't wait to work with them, as well as with coach Uroš Stevanović, whom I have not worked with at the club. I look forward to all of that– stated Vapenski.
Although he has been absent from domestic water polo for a long time, Boris has had several opportunities to face Radnički in duels in the Champions League, both with Brescia and the Georgian Dinamo, so he is well aware of the situation in the club.
– The time has come to return after 10 years abroad, and I believe I can help the team. This was supposed to happen a bit later, but we accelerated the process and reached an agreement. Radnički is a club on a serious level, it has had its ups and downs, but it stands on firm ground and nurtures high ambitions. They want success in Europe and all competitions. This is crucial for Serbian water polo, another strong and stable club in Europe – concluded Vapenski.
