Asimaki returns to national team

Greek water polo legend Alexandra Asimaki is returning to the national team, after previously having retired in November due to a dispute with the head coach, who has since been replaced.

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Asimaki, who had been captain of the Greek women’s national team, announced via an Instagram post in November that she would no longer be playing for the Ethniki anymore. Her post implied that this was due to the fact that coach Giorgos Morfesis was in charge of the team. Together, Asimaki and Morfesis (along with the rest of the team) won the World Championships in 2011, were silver medalists at the European Championships on three occasions (2010, 2012 and 2018), bronze medalists in the FINA World League (2010 and 2012), and won the inaugural Europa Cup in 2018. Asimaki’s decision to retire came after finishing eighth at the 2019 World Championships, which was Greece’s worst placing in that event since 2007.

After coaching Greece at last month’s European Championships, where Greece finished sixth overall, Morfesis was to continue his role as head of the women’s national team. However, several other national team players expressed their disapproval of Morfesis’ role as coach. With the all-important Olympic Qualification Tournament coming up in March, the players felt that a change was necessary in order for them to give themselves the best chance at qualifying for this year’s Olympics. Thus, it was announced that Theodoros Lorantos will be the new head coach of the national team. Lorantos recently coached the Greek men’s U20 national team that won the World Championships back in December.

Asimaki revealed her national team return in an Instagram post on Wednesday, and she was subsequently announced as one of 16 players called up to the national team by Lorantos. Having Asimaki, the 2011 World Water Polo Female Player of the Year, back in the squad is a huge boost for Greece’s Olympic qualification chances in women’s water polo.

By: Andrew Stamas

Image souce: sport24.gr

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