South Africa men's national water polo team

South Africa
FINA code	RSA
Nickname(s)	Black Mamba
Association	Swimming South Africa
Confederation	CANA (Africa)
Head coach	Grant MacKenzie
Asst coach	Thabang Madi; Khanyisa Mpumlwana
Captain	Dylan Watt
FINA ranking (since 2008)
Current	15 (as of 9 August 2021)
Highest	15 (2021)
Biggest win
	South Africa 60–0 Libya; (Casablanca, Morocco; 24 May 2009)
Biggest defeat
	Spain 28–2 South Africa; (Budapest, Hungary; 23 June 2022)
Olympic Games
Appearances	2 (first in 1952)
Best result	9th place (1960)
World Championship
Appearances	14 (first in 1994)
Best result	12th place (2015, 2019, 2022)
World Cup
Appearances	2 (first in 2014)
Best result	8th place (2014, 2018)
World League
Appearances	2 (first in 2009)
Best result	8th place (2009, 2010)
Commonwealth Championship
Appearances	3 (first in 2002)
Best result	4th place (2006, 2014)
Media
Website	swimsa.org
	Last updated: 1 May 2020

The South Africa men's national water polo team is the representative for South Africa in international men's water polo.

The team has competed in the Olympics three times; in 1952, 1960 and 2020. The team also qualified for the 2024 Olympics, but was controversially withdrawn by Swimming South Africa for not being realistic medal contenders.^[1]

Results

Olympic Games

1952 – 14th place^[2]
1960 – 9th place
2020 – 12th place
2024 – Withdrew^[3]

World Championship

1994 – 15th place^[2]
1998 – 14th place
2005 – 15th place
2007 – 14th place
2009 – 15th place
2011 – 16th place
2013 – 15th place
2015 – 12th place
2017 – 16th place
2019 – 12th place
2022 – 12th place
2023 – 16th place
2024 – 15th place
2025 – 16th place

World Cup

2014 – 8th place^[2]
2018 – 8th place

World League

2009 – 8th place^[2]
2010 – 8th place

Commonwealth Championship

2002 – 7th place
2006 – 4th place
2014 – 4th place

Current squad

Roster for the 2025 World Championships.^[4]

Head coach: Grant MacKenzie

1 Luka Rajak GK
2 Nathan Ward FP
3 Manqoba Bungane FP
4 Dean Sneddon FP
5 Calvin Kuperus FP
6 Carl Germishuys FP
7 Dylan Watt FP
8 Ryan Sneddon FP
9 Matthew Bowers FP
10 Kelly Geldenhuys FP
11 Matthew Neser FP
12 Tristan Grimmett FP
13 Matthew Smith GK
14 Brett Sneddon FP

References

^ Hemmonsbey, Keanan (20 February 2024). "Swimming SA dashes water polo players' Paris Olympics dreams despite teams qualifying". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "HistoFINA – Water polo medalists and statistics" (PDF). fina.org. FINA. September 2019. pp. 4, 14, 25, 40, 48, 55. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
^ "Vis la Paris – Uluitor cum au primit tricolorii vestea că vor juca la Jocurile Olimpice! Prioteasa: "N-am știut nimic"". eurosport.ro. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
^ "Men's Water Polo Team Roster RSA" (PDF). Omega Timing. 12 July 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2025.

External links

Official website

[1] Hemmonsbey, Keanan (20 February 2024). "Swimming SA dashes water polo players' Paris Olympics dreams despite teams qualifying". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 18 March 2026.

[HistoFINA_PDF-2] "HistoFINA – Water polo medalists and statistics" (PDF). fina.org. FINA. September 2019. pp. 4, 14, 25, 40, 48, 55. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.

[3] "Vis la Paris – Uluitor cum au primit tricolorii vestea că vor juca la Jocurile Olimpice! Prioteasa: "N-am știut nimic"". eurosport.ro. Retrieved 17 February 2024.

[4] "Men's Water Polo Team Roster RSA" (PDF). Omega Timing. 12 July 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2025.

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