21 May 2013 in General
FINA WATER POLO REFEREE’S REPORT by DION WILLIS to SSA
4th FINA WORLD MEN’S WATER POLO
DEVELOPMENT TROPHY KUWAIT
6th – 11th MAY 2013
Kuwait City, KUWAIT – The 2013 edition of the FINA Men’s Water Polo World Development Trophy, the 4th such event, was hosted by the Kuwait Swimming Federation in Kuwait. There were 11 teams participating in two Groups – Algeria was a late cancellation. The tournament began on a sunny day in Kuwait. The FINA sanctioned tournament was run over 6 days with 12 countries represented. Four teams representing three (3) Continents:
Competition System:
The competition system was an abbreviated Olympic Games Program as identified in FINA BL 9.4.1.2 with two (2) groups of six (6) teams playing a single round robin in each group. The final round was using an abbreviated formula with the first ranked team in each group playing each other for first and second placing, the second ranked team in each group playing each other for third and fourth placing…and so on.
The two (2) groups namely Group A and Group B were as follows:
Group A: Tunisia – Egypt – Peru – Uruguay – Singapore – Saudi Arabia
Group B: South Africa – Puerto Rico – Guatemala – Uzbekistan – Kuwait
Final Rankings
Gold Uzbekistan (UZB)
Silver Egypt (EGY)
Bronze Saudi Arabia (KSA)
4. Puerto Rico (PUR)
5. Kuwait (KUW)
6. Uruguay (URU)
7. South Africa (RSA)
8. Tunisia (TUN)
9. Singapore (SIN)
10. Guatemala (GUA)
11. Peru (PER)
Summary:
I officiated in five (5) matches over the six (6) day tournament which included the gold medal match between Uzbekistan and Egypt respectively. To be awarded the gold medal match by the FINA TWPC was an honour and a privilege for me, my federation and my country.
I am lead to believe that I was the first South African referee to be awarded a gold medal match at a FINA sanctioned tournament. I wish to thank my federation (Swimming South Africa) for giving me the opportunity to officiate at this the 4th FINA Men’s World Water Polo Development Trophy and hope to represent my federation again in the near future.
