The 21st edition of the ASA Winter League is due to start on Sunday, February 22, with ten clubs making up this year’s line-up.
Exiles, Neptunes, San Ġiljan, Sirens, Sliema and Valletta will form the Premier Division while Marsascala, Marsaxlokk, Otters and Ta’ Xbiex will comprise the First Division.
Addressing a media conference in the presence of the competition sponsors, Bank of Valletta, yesterday represented by Jean Paul Abela, and the association’s new officials, general secretary Rita Azzopardi and vice-president Karl Galea, ASA president Joe Caruana Curran thanked all competing clubs for their participation in the pre-season waterpolo competition.
On his part, Abela said that the bank’s backing is reflected by a booming interest among spectators and the satisfactory results obtained by the national team in international competitions.
In 2014, Sliema won their eighth Winter League in history after beating rivals Neptunes 9-7 in the title match at Tal-Qroqq. San Ġiljan trounced Valletta 15-3 in the play-off for third place last year.
Meanwhile, it was also announced yesterday that following a meeting held on Thursday between ASA coaches, Karl Izzo and Anthony Farrugia and their counterparts from Sliema ASC Paul Privitera and Josie Cachia, the dispute over the Blues players’ availability for training with the national team was resolved.
As a result, Sliema’s chosen players were due to turn up for the national team’s training session yesterday.
As from next Tuesday, Izzo’s national team will undergo a six-day training camp in Hungary with Hungarian team Miskolc.
This will be followed by the Euro 2016 qualifying round matches in Utrecht, Holland, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the following week.
France, Holland and Latvia will offer opposition to our team.
Fixtures list
Premier Division
Feb. 22: Sirens vs San Ġiljan; Valletta vs Sliema; Exiles vs Neptunes.
Feb. 28: San Giljan vs Valletta; Sliema vs Exiles.
March 1: Neptunes vs Sirens.
March 6/7: Valletta vs Sirens; Exiles vs San Giljan; Neptunes vs Sliema.
March 27/28: San Giljan vs Neptunes; Sirens vs Sliema; Valletta vs Exiles.
March 31: Exiles vs Sirens; Neptunes vs Valletta; Sliema vs San Giljan.
April 17/18: Play-offs – Day One 3rd vs 1st; 6th vs 4th.
April 24/25: Play-offs – Day Two 2nd vs 3rd; 5th vs 6th.
May 9: Play-offs Day 3 – 1st vs 2nd; 4th vs 5th.
First Division
March 1: Marsaxlokk vs Ta’ Xbiex; Marsascala vs Otters.
March 6/7: Ta’ Xbiex vs Marsascala; Otters vs Marsaxlokk.
March 27/28: Marsascala vs Marsa-xlokk; Ta’ Xbiex vs Otters.
April 17/18: Ta’ Xbiex vs Marsaxlokk; Otters vs Marsascala.
April 24/25: Marsascala vs Ta’ Xbiex; Marsaxlokk vs Otters.
May 1: Marsaxlokk vs Marsascala; Otters vs Ta’ Xbiex.