'Foreign players boost level of competition' - ASA president Robert Ebejer

As the Wilkinson Sword Winter League is drawing to a close and the start of the National Championship looms larger, waterpolo clubs will again parade foreigners in summer in a bid to improve their chances of winning the coveted title.

According to competition rules, clubs may register one foreign player up to one week prior to the date of the championship's start.

"The re-introduction, in recent years, of foreign players in the national waterpolo championship has undoubtedly boosted the level of competition," said Robert Ebejer, long-time president of the Aquatic Sports Association (ASA).

"In spite of the additional financial costs, most clubs in Malta engage foreign players not only to improve their potentiality, vis-a-vis the run for the championship, but also to give their players the opportunity to train alongside others with international experience and who have a different mentality and approach towards the sport.

"Invaluable experience is also gained when Maltese players, themselves very talented, confront others of a higher standard during the competition."

Neptunes Vodafone, the current champions, have already an-nounced that this summer they will have Serb star Vladimir Vujasinovic in the team.

Sliema McDonald's have signed up Hungarian Tamas Varga while Marko Cuk, voted Best Foreign Player of the Year in 2006, will be playing for San Giljan Zara again. French player, Aurelien Cousin is on the books of Exiles SC.

Ebejer considers international experience as crucial in the developing game.

"These past few years, we have been very pleased with the number of talented and enthusiastic youths in the local scene," he said.

"We try our best to encourage local players to join foreign teams so as to train and compete at a higher level of competition."

National waterpolo activities are sponsored by Wilkinson Sword, manufacturers of razors and blades.

"Since the association is a voluntary organisation, the Wilkinson Sword sponsorship is very useful for us to promote the sport and to prepare our national teams," Ebejer added. "Thanks to our sponsors, we are able to plan activities, so valuable for our young players, such as inviting experts to conduct clinics on the rules of the game."

This year, Maltese national teams will be participating in international tournaments.

The senior side will be competing in the Euro 'B' Championships in Manchester in July while the juniors will be participating in the European Youth Championships which are being held in Malta in September.

"This will be a great experience for our youngsters. The enthusiasm shown by the selected players has spurred us to committing ourselves to their formation, and to try to help them in any way we can in their development and improvement," Ebejer said.

The Wilkinson Sword league draws will take place on Monday at the Corinthia San Gorg Hotel, St Julians. Nine clubs will be competing in the preliminary round, namely, Exiles Pender Gardens, Marsascala Breakers, Marsaxlokk Freeport, Neptunes Vodafone, Otters ASC, San Giljan Zara, Sirens Hard Rock Cafe, Sliema McDonald's and Ta' Xbiex Mermaids Paradise.

The championship will be played in two phases. At the end of the preliminary round, the classification will determine the teams to play in Division One and Two.

The Final Round will have four teams in Division One playing another two rounds and the five teams in Division Two play one other round of matches to determine the 2007 champions.