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This is the first tournament in South Africa that there’s ever been any prize money available for
More than 100 of South Africa’s top water polo players gathered in Gqeberha over the past 3 days for the inaugural South Africa Water Polo Winter Series.
The new franchise format tournament, featuring four men’s and four women’s teams, was held at the Newton Park Indoor Pool.
[WATCH] SABC News reporter Sisipho Ngcumbe is in Gqeberha where a new national franchise water polo tournament, featuring some of South Africa’s top senior players and modelled on cricket’s SA20, is underway. pic.twitter.com/Sr1vi3sTkB
— SABC News (@SABCNews) August 10, 2025
Tournament Director Siegfried Lokotsh says it is a milestone for the sport, aimed at boosting competitiveness and growing participation from grassroots to the Olympic stage.
“First tournament of its kind in the country, we’ve drafted in the best players across the country, coaches, referees, very similar to what they do in the NFL, so we got the idea from that,” says Lokotsh.
He says they put them into teams based on strength and they compete for prize money.
“It’s the first tournament in South Africa that there’s ever been any prize money available. The total prize available is about R25 000,” he adds.
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