Malta coach Karl Izzo is targeting a top-three finish at the Commonwealth Championship, starting tomorrow in Scotland. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lup

Malta’s recent upsurge in international waterpolo will again be under the microscope as our boys compete in the 2014 Commonwealth Championship in Aberdeen, Scotland, between April 5 and 12.

Following our success when winning the Limerick EU 8 Nations tournament last month, expectations of another fruitful venture will surely not be dismissed when taking into account the impressive results the Maltese obtained in the matches played in Ireland.

This time our opponents will be England, New Zealand, Singapore and South Africa besides Scotland and Wales, teams we met in the EU tournament.

Addressing a news conference yesterday, ASA president Joe Caruana Curran focused on our team’s efforts over several months together with work of the technical staff and the ASA officials which have put us on a higher standing in the rankings and in the eyes of LEN.

“Between last year and after the Commonwealth Championship this month, our national team will have figured in just over 40 friendly and competitive matches. Our efforts are bearing fruit and we look forward to keeping this up,” Caruana Curran said.

“The commitments of our senior and youth teams comprised the LEN Youth Championship in Malta, last September, a friendly tournament and the three rounds of the Euro Cup.

“The Commonwealths and the Youth Championships this year will complete our international assignments.”

“Apart from the fact that teams from other countries relish coming over to Malta, our island is held in high regard by LEN,” Caruana Curran added.

“This could be seen by assignments which the European body is handing to us as well as accepting Malta’s recent proposal to expand the next edition of the European championship from 12 to 16 teams.

“Aberdeen will be our next test and we hope that the financial demands of this event will not bar our future international participation.

“BOV are our only sponsors and we are immensely grateful to them.”

Caruana Curran’s last comment clearly implied that the ASA would be more than happy if further assistance from other sources will be forthcoming.

For his part, coach Karl Izzo praised his players for their constant work and enthusiasm.

“I’m sure that their 12-month commitment in training and competitions, which was only broken between mid-November and mid-December last year, will produce the desired dividends,” Izzo said.

Izzo lamented the absence from the Aberdeen-bound squad of Steve Camilleri because of his commitments with Rari Nantes Bogliasco and the fact that he is still recovering from injury.

“In Scotland we will play against very good opponents such as England. Some of the others are unknown quantities.

“We should thrive on our togetherness to obtain creditable results over an eight-day span when we play seven matches,” Izzo said.

Referring to the prospects of his team, Izzo said: “The players will certainly give their very best. I would be delighted with a podium place.”

Massimo Angileri will be the referee from Malta in the Commonwealth Championship.

Izzo’s Squad

Alan Borg Cole, Niki Lanzon, Jerome Gabarretta, Michele Stellini, Mark Meli, Matthew Zammit, Alex Attard, Jordan Camilleri, John Brownrigg, Timmy Sullivan, Clint Mercieca, Dino Zammit, Dean Camilleri.

Malta’s Fixtures

Tomorrow: 14.00 Malta vs New Zealand; Sunday: 17.00 Scotland vs Malta; Monday (April 7 15.30 Malta vs Singapore; Tuesday (April 8 17.00 Malta vs South Africa; Wednesday (April 9 17.30 Wales vs Malta; Friday (April 11) 16.00 England vs Malta; Saturday (April 12 Matches to determine final placings.