With aquatic sport momentarily in the background during the height of the winter season, news will start filtering through of the preparation of the national waterpolo team that will be engaged in the European Championships in April.
Following Malta's excellent showing in the LEN Championships B in Lugano, Switzerland, last October, when they finished sixth to qualify for the next stage of the continental championships, national coach Sergio Afric will intensify the players' preparation in view of the stiffer challenges ahead.
In fact, Malta have been drawn in Group 'A' comprising Spain, Slovakia and Turkey, teams that will surely pose a veritable stumbling block in our bid to qualify for the top group and join Montenegro, Serbia, Hungary, Croatia, Italy and Germany in the last phase in Zagreb in October this year.
The other teams are Macedonia, Greece, France and Slovenia in Group 'B' and Romania, Russia, Netherlands and Great Britain in Group 'C'.
The first two-placed teams from these three groups will join the elite nations amid expectations of keen tussles early in spring and then later in autumn.
ASA president Austin Sammut highlighted this impending challenge for the Malta team during the ASA Annual General Meeting held towards the end of the year.
The ASA chief showed his gratitude towards Bank of Valletta for sponsoring its competitions, at the same time stressing the association's need to increase the number of sponsors.
Mention was also made of a Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Federazione Italiana Nuoto whereby local referees will be able to control Italian league matches in southern Italy and for Maltese waterpolo clubs to participate in Italian competitions.
With former president Robert Ebejer appointed as honorary president, the association's officials remained unchanged as Joe Agius Ruggier, Remy D'Amato (following a tight ballot between him and George Papagiorcopulo) and Edgar Izzo retained their posts as the association's vice-president, secretary and treasurer respectively.
Mark Galea's term as vice-president (swimming) was extended till 2011.