Water polo reform on hold as Stefano Vigoriti steps down from Swim SA
He says he was met with hurdles at SwimSA and 'could not do the job'.
Stefano Vigoriti sits down with Robert Marawa. Photo: 947
947’s Robert Marawa chats to Stefano Vigoriti.
(Skip to 14:50 for this one.)
Vigoriti recently stepped down as executive director at Swimming South Africa (SwimSA) after his reform strategy for water polo faced hurdles.
He says despite being awarded the role to turn the sinking ship around, he was met with a lack of enthusiasm and cooperation.
“I found out whatever was not working, and I made up a plan with the team that I had… Working towards Los Angeles ’28 and Brisbane ’32… and that’s where the problem started.”
– Stefano Vigoriti
“Whatever you wanted to do, they said you can’t do this… We are in a situation where the water polo community at large understands that there is a problem.”
– Stefano Vigoriti
Among the issues he identified while at Swim SA was the lack of support and structure for talent transitioning from high school water polo to clubs.
This was a big problem as schools' water polo in South Africa is the best being played at schools in the world.
“…it is an elite sport played in elite schools or top government schools… this is only because of the water polo community getting involved and making sure that we started at the basics.”
– Stefano Vigoriti
“Where the problem lies is, you finish school, now where do you go?... There are no structures in terms of leagues, there wasn’t a follow-up, the national teams… the level of coaching went down… we just couldn’t get going.”
– Stefano Vigoriti
Vigoriti says it is possible to have a South African water polo team competing in the next Olympics but it requires transformation.
“I am not speaking against Swimming South Africa, I am speaking about my experience and my experience has not been a good one… I was brought in to do a job that I really could not do.”
– Stefano Vigoriti
“It’s a sport that I really love… Water polo, it’s in your blood, it’s a sport that if you play it, you come to love it.”
– Stefano Vigoriti
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the discussion