Semmelweis University Sports Club takes over OSC Water Polo

Starting July 1, Semmelweis University Sports Club will officially assume control of the OB I men’s team formerly known as Genesys-OSC Újbuda, along with OSC’s entire youth development and competitive water polo program. The move, initiated in cooperation with the Hungarian Water Polo Association, marks a significant return to the university’s roots.

According to a statement from Semmelweis University’s Communications Directorate, the transition means that players from the OSC Water Polo Sports Club—originally established in 1957 as the university’s own club—will once again compete under the banner of their founding institution. The new structure will operate under the name Semmelweis OSC, reaffirming the historic connection between the university and the sport.

Over 240 athletes—from children to adults—will continue training and competing in the same familiar surroundings of the Nyéki Imre Swimming Pool, with no changes to membership fees or coaching staff. The transition will maintain continuity for players and parents alike.

The shift comes amid OSC’s current legal and financial uncertainties. In response, the Hungarian Water Polo Association reached out to Semmelweis University to safeguard the future of the club’s teams and athletes. Recognizing the university’s deep commitment to sport, the association’s board unanimously approved the full transfer of OSC’s athletes and youth teams to the Semmelweis University Sports Club at no cost.

Dr. Béla Merkely, Rector of Semmelweis University, emphasized the significance of sport in university life:
“Sport is not only vital for maintaining health, but also for building community. Our men’s and women’s water polo teams are growing stronger each year, regularly winning medals in domestic and international competitions. With the integration of new university students, our program continues to thrive.”

Founded in 2010, the Semmelweis University Sports Club was created to provide staff and students with diverse sporting opportunities, from recreational activities to high-level competition. Until now, the women’s water polo team competed in the OB I/B league, while the men’s team played in OB II and the Budapest Amateur Championship.

To explain the transition, an information session was held for parents at the university’s Városmajor Cardiovascular Clinic. Present at the meeting were Norbert Madaras, President of the Hungarian Water Polo Association, along with Dr. Merkely and University Chancellor Dr. Lívia Pavlik. The gathering drew around 200 parents, many of whom expressed optimism and support for the future of Semmelweis OSC.

The university’s involvement marks not just an administrative change, but a symbolic homecoming—one deeply rooted in the shared history between Semmelweis and Hungarian water polo.

Why OSC Collapsed?

OSC’s downfall cannot be attributed to poor sporting performance—the club finished a strong fifth in the 2024–25 OB I regular season. Instead, its collapse is the result of deep-rooted financial misconduct and organizational failure.

The club’s reliance on state-subsidized TAO funding—a public financial support program intended to nurture youth sports—became its Achilles’ heel. Rather than being invested transparently and responsibly, the money appears to have been misused by club leadership. As detailed by a State Audit Office (SAO) investigation, OSC falsified banking documents to validate public expenses and misrepresented its financial standing. These fraudulent acts triggered an escalating series of events: public funding was cut off, criminal suspicions arose, and key sponsors began distancing themselves.

This lack of financial oversight not only crippled the club’s credibility but also left players and staff in a state of growing uncertainty. Back pay went unresolved, coaches were left in limbo, and any hope of sustaining a high-performance environment quickly eroded. What followed was a season defined by resilience on the surface—but dysfunction behind the scenes.

At the heart of the crisis were former executives Mária Konrád and Péter Becsey, who treated club assets as personal accounts. Becsey, in particular, brought baggage from a previous financial scandal involving public money misuse in Budapest’s 2nd District—making his continued role at OSC all the more controversial.

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