Canoe polo tournament at Tal-Qroqq

Yuletide is a time for joy and goodwill. It’s also the time for the Malta Canoe Polo Club’s annual Christmas tournament, where merryment and fun are the order of the day.

In spite of the cold weather, 18 avid canoe-polo players recently turned up at the National Pool, making up four well-balanced teams keen to get on the water and compete for first prize, donated by the president of the Malta Canoe Federation, Peter Borg Costanzi.

A play-off tournament was organised, with each side playing against the other three teams in tough games lasting 20 minutes, all filled with paddling, shooting and scoring.

With helmets on and spray decks fitting snugly around the cockpit, the blues battled the reds for the ball, some using their superior strength, others preferring fast-break tactics, occasionally capsising, but often successfully scoring, while those on the sides cheered on.

Towards the end, the exhausted winners won their final game by a single goal, scored after some brilliant passing by captain Alex Rizzo.

In a statement, the Canoe Polo Club’s showed its appreciation to the Tal-Qroqq National Pool authorities, for their support and encouragement, and to the pool attendants “who uncomplainingly gave us a helping hand throughout the year”.