By JARROD POTTER
GREATER Dandenong added another sport to its ever-burgeoning sports club list with the South Eastern Phoenix bringing a water polo presence to the city.
The Phoenix, coached by Australian Stingers’ and Victorian Tigers’ player Elise Rossato, is based out of the Noble Park Aquatic Centre (NPAC) and president Daniel Di Manno said the club was proud to be in the facility and helping grow the sport in the region.
“It’s been really, really enjoyable so far and there’s been a really good response from everyone,” Di Manno said.
“This is ideal – outdoor pool, it’s brand new, it’s deep enough and they (NPAC) are happy to have us here.
“There’s a really broad range, in terms of the demographic of people in the area, so we just want as many people playing water polo.”
Di Manno said the learning curve for the sport is relative easy and players can pick up the basics quickly.
“It’s a unique sport – it’s one of those ones people aren’t necessarily aware of until they see it,” Di Manno said.
“It’s a very basic sport to learn and a really safe sport to play.”
The club hopes to enter a variety of teams into this year’s Water Polo Victoria competition and host team trainings for Victorian and Australian level teams at NPAC, on top of running a number of sports and schools programs for teams and schools throughout Greater Dandenong and beyond.
The Phoenix also want to become one of the premier sporting clubs, to show the capabilities of the sport to the local community.
“Just want to see how high we could set the bar and to show not just water polo, but other local sporting clubs,” Di Manno said.
“What can be achieved with working with local government, councils, facilities and sporting bodies – so we really do want to push the boundaries of what we’re doing with all the courses we’re running as well.”
This year the Phoenix will also launch Australia’s first access all abilities program to help get even more people involved in water polo.
For more information on joining the Phoenix, contact the club at info@southeasternphoenix.com or visit the web site www.southeasternphoenix.com.
