Aquilina joins Saints as Blues land Privitera

Edward Aquilina will be re-launching his career in waterpolo with Division One club San Ġiljan ASC next season after signing a four-year contract with the Balluta Bay outfit following a transfer move from Sliema ASC.

Sliema were kept busy in the transfer market this week as yesterday they announced the signing of Paul Privitera, the Malta national team captain. He joined from Sirens.

Ċoċċi, as Aquilina is popularly known in waterpolo circles, started playing for Sliema in the junior ranks and spent 13 years with the Blues before a sabbatical to deal with some personal matters and a brief stint with Ta' Xbiex in Division Two last summer.

"I am very happy and enthusiastic about joining a club with great ambition to win the honours next season," Aquilina told The Times.

"The San Ġiljan committee were very co-operative and I want to thank them for showing faith in my abilities. Next year, I would like to help the team do well and, perhaps, see more San Ġiljan supporters back on the terraces at Tal-Qroqq.

"Regaining my place in the national team is also something I hope to achieve next year."

Aquilina won every honour the game has to offer while at Sliema. With him in the water, the Blues won the league title five times and the KO competition on three occasions.

"I'll never forget my years with Sliema," Aquilina added.

"The players were great and so were the coaches. I consider the Sliema supporters my second family and I hope they'll understand my decision to change club at this stage of my career."

At Sliema, Privitera will be filling the void left by Jonathan Valletta who decided to quit the game last month.

Goalkeeper Josie Cachia is also reported to be mulling retirement but Privitera, 35, is likely to add more steel to the Blues squad.

Privitera started his career with Marsascala and also played for Sirens with whom he won a league title in 2000 and three KO competitions. He was twice voted player of the year in 1999 and 2006.