Zaibas and Donk all set for Challenger Cup final
As Lithuania’s EVK Zaibas and Netherlands’ GZC Donk fine-tune their preparations for this weekend’s Challenger Cup final first-leg, European Aquatics spoke to both teams ahead of Saturday’s opening clash.
2024/25 Challenger Cup Men
Final First-Leg
Saturday, 12th April 2025
(Local time shown)
19:00: EVK Zaibas (LTU) v GZC Donk (NED)
GZC Donk are yet to lose a Challenger Cup game this season – after winning six and drawing once – and they’ll be aiming to continue that trend in Lithuania this weekend against EVK Zaibas in the first-leg of the final.
Back in November, the powerful Dutch side dominated the qualification round and comfortably finished as the top scorers from all the groups with 58 goals (next best was KVP Novaky with 51).
In the quarters, more clinical finishing saw them sweep Portugal’s Clube Fluvial Portuense aside 38-25 on aggregate, then they edged a fierce and entertaining battle with Malta’s Sliema ASC in the semis 30-29.
Goalkeeper Bognar Bendeguz was one of Donk’s heroes against Sliema, as he saved two penalties during the crucial second-leg to help his side to a memorable victory.
‘As a team, we have been playing in more or less the same formation for a long time, so for us, this really feels like a culmination of years of training and playing together,’ said Donk’s Tijs Schouwerwou, who scored a hat-trick against Sliema in Malta.
‘The final really is the icing on the cake for us. For all the club, the volunteers and all the people who support us, this is of course also an absolute highlight, and it would be nice if we can give something back to all these people starting this weekend.’
‘All the club, and certainly all the players, are looking forward to this final tremendously,’ added Donk’s Daan Schouwerwou. ‘We are really living towards it as a group. We travel to Lithuania this Friday with a good feeling and we hope to create a nice starting position for the home match on April 26.’
Standing in Donk’s way of glory is EVK Zaibas, who lost in the semi-finals last season to eventual winners Galatasaray, but have managed to take one step further this year.
The Lithuanians journey to the final hasn’t been as smooth as Donk’s, as they’ve won four, lost two and drawn once so far, but they’ve produced big results when it mattered and arguably had a much tougher route.
After losing to De Zaan in the qualification round 12-13, they expertly got their revenge when they met them again in the semi-finals.
Hat-tricks from Ivan Krapic, Marko Jelaca and Luka Bosic in the decisive second-leg helped steer them to a famous 13-11 victory, which was just enough to progress after a tense 9-9 draw in Amsterdam.
‘I would like to look back at the way we reached the final, as we have had to beat all the best teams to get here,’ said Zaibas head coach Blagoje Ivovic, the brother of Montenegro legend Aleksandar.
‘I believe that my players will show strong character and great desire once again, and that we will be celebrating after the final because they all deserve it.’
‘Our team is highly-motivated and fully focused on giving everything in the first-leg of the final,’ added Zaibas captain Jan Bakulo.
‘All the players and the coaches believe in our strength and teamwork, and we are aiming to take a strong lead before the second-leg, because we’re playing at home first.
‘We must achieve the best result this weekend and play a great game in front of our fans. We respect our opponents, but we’re here to win.’
The men’s Challenger Cup water polo final will be played over two legs – Saturday 12th April and Saturday 26th April – and you can watch all the action live on www.euroaquaticstv.com and stay up-to-date with the full fixtures, live results/tables and real-time updates through the European Aquatics App. Download it here: Google Play.
Andy Rollé for European Aquatics
The post Zaibas and Donk all set for Challenger Cup final first appeared on European Aquatics®.