No sponsorship for national leagues

For the first time in several years, the Aquatic Sports Association will be organising its waterpolo national leagues without the assistance of a main sponsor, president Robert Ebejer said yesterday during the draws of the 2005 championship at the National Pool.

For the last few seasons, Farsons had sponsored the waterpolo leagues. But after the contract deal came to an end last summer, the ASA failed to find a replacement and now it finds itself organising the summer-long championships without any financial assistance.

"For the first time in many years, we have failed to secure a sponsor for our competitions," Ebejer said.

"With the organisation administered fully by volunteers, the lack of a sponsor does not put in jeopardy the organisation of the league however.

"Each year the ASA used the money provided by the sponsors to help the national teams compete in international tournaments.

"We are lucky in a way that this year we do not have any major tournaments to compete in and therefore we can save the money collected from last year's European Junior Championship to help the national team prepare for the European 'A' Championships qualifiers."

Eight teams will be competing in the Preliminary Round that starts on Friday, June 10.

These are Sliema, Sirens, Neptunes, Marsascala, Exiles, San Giljan, Valletta and Marsaxlokk. Ta' Xbiex and Otters have opted out of the opening phase and will compete in the Second Division proper.

The points gathered by the eight teams in the opening phase will be carried over to the second phase with Ta' Xbiex and Otters starting on zero points.

Champions Sliema, under the guidance of new Serb coach Jubisa Mekcic, start their title defence against Warren Debono's San Giljan on the opening day. The other match involves Sirens and Valletta.

Neptunes, under the supervision of former Sliema coach Sergio Afric, open their league commitments on Saturday, June 11 against Marsaxlokk. The opening weekend's programme is completed with the Marsascala vs Exiles match.

The Preliminary Round comes to a close on Saturday, July 25 when Sliema face Sirens for the President's Cup while Neptunes take on Marsascala for the Sportswriters' Association Cup.

The Division One and Division Two championships are scheduled to start in the weekend of July 29-31 with the final round of matches pencilled for September 9 and 10.

The knock-out competitions will start on September 13 and 14 with the respective finals planned for September 18.

Ebejer yesterday referred to recent contributions in the media regarding vandalism at the National Pool and said that the ASA had reached an agreement with the Kunsill Malti Ghall-Isport. It was agreed that if clubs are found responsible of any vandalism caused at the pool area they will be fined accordingly to make up for the damages.

Ebejer then spoke on the Malta Olympic Committee's policy of selection of its athletes for the forthcoming GSSE in Andorra.

He said he was disappointed to see prospective swimmers Neil Agius and Kyle Scerri failing to make the grade despite showing considerable improvement in their performances in recent months.

"I think the Malta Olympic Committee should have been more lenient in selecting our swimmers," Ebejer said.

"This year both Agius and Scerri showed great commitment and progress in their strokes. They also managed to improve national marks that had been in our record books for quite a long time before.

"True, they failed to achieve the required MQSs but were close to the marks and I firmly believe that their efforts should have been rewarded with a place in the team."

Opening programme

Friday, June 10 - Sliema vs San Giljan; Sirens vs Valletta.

Saturday, June 11 - Neptunes vs Marsaxlokk; Marsascala vs Exiles.