The Aquatic Sports Association of Malta named the Malta U-15 national team ahead of their participation in Men’s European Waterpolo Championship Group C qualifiers.
The Championships, which are a biennial event, held under the auspices of the Ligue Européenne de Natation (LEN), were postponed from March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
National team coach Anthony Farrugia expressed his satisfaction at the team’s preparation. The dedication put in by the team and their coaches and officials has been commendable, Farrugia said.
Although match practice has been lacking, there has been no lack of physical training and the squad has been training regularly in preparation for this event.
Farrugia expressed his gratitude towards the ASA, Sport Malta, the Ministry of Health, and the Department of Public Health and commended the collaboration between entities to ensure that the team would be as best prepared under the current circumstances.
“It would be easy to try and make excuses and blame the pandemic for the lack of match experience, but we do not take that approach. From a young age we are trying to instil a winning mentality,” Farrugia said.
“These are not easy games, and there will be a degree of pressure, but one needs to go and play these kind of matches with a positive attitude, and that is not something the boys are short of. I am confident that they will do Malta proud.”
For Malta to proceed to the finals, which should take place in Loule, Portugal between the July 4 and 11, they would need to win at least one game.
However, the number of goals is important, as it will all boil down to the goal difference.
Malta will open their commitments on May 28 when they face Slovenia at 6.30pm. On Saturday, they take on Slovenia at the same time before ending their commitments on Sunday when the take on France at 10.30am.
Competitions will take place behind closed doors but will be live streamed on the ASA
Squad: Dale Galea Mule; Luigi Dimech, Isaac Azzopardi, Gabriel Bonavia; Jayden Cassar, Dean Bugeja, Zak Cutajar Licari, Jayden Cutajar, Elijah Schembri, Cain Miguel Cutajar, Lee Montebello Brownrigg, Enrico Mallia, Myron Brimmer, Julian Chircop.
