Useful break for Camilleri after rigours of a long year

Competing almost non-stop for a year brings about physical and mental fatigue. More so when one is engaged in a rigorous sport such as waterpolo.

Steve Camilleri seems to have enjoyed the year 2010 despite the toils of training and the demands of tuning up for innumerable competitive matches in Malta and Italy.

The lanky 24-year-old is happy to be currently enjoying a well-deserved break in his home country with family and friends – indeed a welcome respite after the pressures of a full year.

He was unruffled by the prospect of having to return to Genova fairly soon to help his team keep the pace with the top sides in the Serie A1 – one of the most competitive leagues in Europe and the hub of world waterpolo in that the competition includes many international class players.

“I believe that to maintain a high level of fitness and concentration players have to switch off once in a while. Proper rest is just as important as keeping yourself trained,” Camilleri quipped.

“Due to my commitments for Bogliasco and Neptunes I don’t get much time off during the year. So, I try to take advantage of the Christmas holidays.

“I believe 2010 has been the most successful year for me. I helped Bogliasco reach the play-offs after more than 10 years and helped Neptunes clinch the domestic league. I also placed high in Italy scoring 56 goals and topped the scorers’ list of the Maltese championship yet again,” he added with a sense of satisfaction.

Referring to his engagement with the Italian team, he said that his contract was for three years, 2010 being the third year.

“I hope to reach an agreement with Bogliasco and extend the contract in the next few months,” he said.

Asked whether he has a key role in his Italian team’s gameplan, Camilleri preferred not to personalise this matter.

“Just like in Malta, foreign players are chosen according to what the team need,” he said.

“For this reason foreigners tend to have an important role and most schemes are concentrated around their abilities.

“I consider myself to be a more offensive player, so I can’t deny that I enjoy scoring goals as this helps me to keep my confidence high.”

On the divided allegiance between club and country, Camilleri was very frank when saying that he never thought about this matter.

“The truth is that when I was confronted with a situation when I had to do duty for club and country at the same time I believe that I should have never been put in a position where I was forced to make this choice. I think such a problem can be overcome with a bit more planning.”

Commenting on which areas he thinks his game has improved, he stressed that now he has “a better understanding of the game in general. I have learned that it is very important to keep a cool head and control your emotions, although at times it’s very hard.”

Turning to how waterpolo in our country can improve further, more so with a new president at the helm, Camilleri said a new man at the helm brings new ideas.

“I have recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Joe Caruana Curran and I was very happy to see that he approached his new post with the necessary level of interest and seriousness,” Camilleri said.

When asked about whether he considers it a handicap for Maltese waterpolo in general that two teams are dominating the local scene, the all-rounder was blunt.

“Neptunes and Sliema have been so successful because they have always had people in their respective committees who were not only interested in immediate success but have also invested in the future. However, I believe that this is now changing,” he said.

“In this respect I particularly compliment Exiles who have several young and promising players whose efforts have helped the senior team achieve recent good results.”