Youth festival at Tal-Qroqq

Last weekend saw the beginning of what is expected to be an active winter season for youth waterpolo on our shores. No fewer than six teams and over 70 players took part in the first one-day waterpolo festival of the season at Tal-Qroqq.

Fifteen matches in the U-16 category were played over four hours with participants hailing from Exiles, Neptunes, Marsascala, San Ġiljan, Sirens and Sliema.

The tournament, to be followed by others, is part of a strategy set up by ASA clubs. The main goal is to develop youth waterpolo and to keep those involved motivated and continually active during the winter months.

The second festival, for the U-14 category, will be played today at Tal-Qroqq.

Besides training regularly with their respective clubs, some of the young players also practise regularly with the ASA age group teams under the guidance of Karl Izzo.

Isabelle Zarb, acting secretary of the ASA, said: “The pool utilisation in respect of youth waterpolo has increased over the past months, which augurs well for the future.”

Waterpolo for girls is also gaining momentum with regular training sessions now being held at the National Pool.

Meanwhile, the ASA is planning three activities to raise funds for the Community Chest Fund on December 19.

The last youth waterpolo festival of the year will be played on the day and there will also be an event for female players in the afternoon.

The other activity, hosted jointly by Birkirkara St Joseph and the ASA, will consist of an open water swim. The activity starts at 9 a.m. but the venue is yet un-named.