Malta faces test as seven teams take part in 2008 Comen Cup

Seven teams will be participating in the 2008 Comen Cup, an annual LEN tournament which this year will be held at the National Pool, between tomorrow and Sunday.

National teams as well as club sides have taken part in this competition in recent years, with Malta's participation turning out to be a regular and useful one in terms of our national side's preparation for their commitments in the European or Commonwealth championships.

In this year's tournament Malta are in Group A which also includes Club Nautico Chania (Greece), Switzerland and Cyprus. Group B is made up of Rari Nantes Sori (Italy), FNC de Douai (France) and Great Britain.

It will be a baptism of fire for Sergio Afric, appointed by the ASA as Malta's national team coach. For the first time Afric, also recently engaged by Sliema ASC as their coach, will be able to assess his team's abilities against foreign opposition ahead of stiffer tests when Malta is also due to take part in the LEN European 'B' qualifying round in May 2009 and eventually later on in August, if our team qualifies for the 'B' finals.

It is to be noted that Steve Camilleri is unavailable since he is currently playing for Bogliasco, the A1 Italian team. Matthew Zammit (San Ġiljan) is injured, while the Neptunes players, Niki Gouder and Karl Galea, are both indisposed. Alan Borg Cole, the Exiles' goalkeeper, has temporarily formed part of the squad.

In this year's Comen Cup there will be a total of 15 matches, with three played every day, starting at 2.30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. respectively. As is normal practice in this tournament, matches will be played until a final classification is arrived at.

Malta's squad: J. Cachia, N. Lanzon, E. Aquilina, P. Privitera (captain), M. Meli, J. Soler, J. Borg, J. Brownrigg, C. Debono, J. Valletta, A. Grech, M. Stellini, M. Pisani, C. Mercieca, P. Fava.

Programme

Tomorrow: 2.30 p.m. CN Chania vs Switzerland; 4 p.m. FNC de Douai vs RN Sori; 5.30 p.m. Malta vs Cyprus.

Thursday: 2.30 p.m. CN Chania vs Cyprus; 4 p.m. Great Britain vs FNC Douai; 5.30 p.m. Malta vs Switzerland.

Friday: 2.30 p.m. Switzerland vs Cyprus; 4 p.m. RN Sori vs Great Britain; 5.30 p.m. Malta vs FNC Chania.

Saturday: 2.30 p.m. 4th Group A vs 3rd Group B; 4 p.m. 1st Group A vs 2nd Group B; 5.30 p.m. 2nd Group A vs 1st Group B

Sunday: 2.30 p.m. 3rd Group B vs 3rd Group A; 4 p.m. Third-place play-off; 5.30 p.m. Final.

Ebejer keeps LEN seat

Meanwhile, it has just been announced that ASA president Robbie Ebejer was again voted to form part of the LEN Bureau, a post he will hold for another five years. He polled 79 out of 88 votes.