More than 100 of South Africas 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 mens and four womens teams, was held at the Newton Park Indoor Pool.
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, weve 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.