Over four months into his sojourn in Italy, playing for Serie A1 team Rari Nantes Bogliasco, waterpolo player Steve Camilleri gives his impressions to Alex Vella

You've been in Italy for over four months now. Was it difficult to integrate with your new team?

No, I did not find it hard at all.

Obviously, there were the normal difficulties in the beginning but, as my role with Bogliasco is very similar to that with Neptunes, I settled in the team quite easily. The players, coaches and club administrators also made me feel very welcome.

What basic differences are there in training systems and mentality of the players between those in Malta and in Italy?

As the set-up is professional, there are two training sessions daily. We do swimming in the morning and gym followed by technical and tactical preparation in the evening.

Most of the players are full professionals and in this the mentality is obviously different from that in Malta. Here the players are fully dedicated to the sport as this is their full-time job. Some of the younger players do attend university and this is something I intend taking up again in the near future.

What duties are you expected to carry out in your role with Bogliasco?

As I said, my role in the team and the position I have been asked to play in is the same as that which I have always played with Neptunes.

This is the playmaker role in position 4. I am also the first penalty-taker in the team and when possible I am also expected to do swim-ups.

How many goals have you scored so far?

In the first round of the Serie A1 I scored 20 goals and in the Coppa Italia I had scored six times in three games.

Is there any difference between the game you played with Partizan Belgrade and now with Bogliasco?

With Partizan, who had an over abundance of players in all roles, my position varied depending on the game. There were times when I was also asked to play as a last man. I feel this helped my game tremendously.

Bogliasco needed a new centre and two attackers to play on the outside. Arnaldo Deserti is the new centre, Jeff Powers can play both in position 2 and centre and I play in position 4.

How do you account for being the top scorer for your team in the competitive matches so far?

I feel that, as every player has his role in the team, my job is to score goals and thank God so far I have managed quite well.

In what ways will the game abroad help you physically and technically?

I think playing abroad, especially in such a competitive league as Serie A1 with the world's top players, a player can only improve his game in all senses.

What are your impressions of the support for Bogliasco?

I was pleasantly surprised by the number of supporters in our home matches and a good number of them travel to our away matches as well. Our pool is always packed and this is somewhat surprising as the town's population is only 4,000.

If you keep improving would you consider other offers to join bigger clubs?

I definitely hope to keep improving and in the future will consider offers from bigger clubs, but not just yet. At 21, I feel I am still young and have a lot to learn, and I feel Bogliasco is the ideal club for me to achieve this.

Playing abroad involves some sacrifice. Have you got any difficulties or problems of a social/personal nature?

I have found living in Bogliasco much easier than I did last year in Belgrade.

Here, the players meet up and go out together very often and I have been made very welcome by them and their families.

I spent many an evening at their homes, especially at the Di Somma's. My only dilemma was stopping my University studies as I feel one should always have something to fall back onto but I intend resuming them once I have settled down in my waterpolo career.

What are your current links with Neptunes, the club you started your career with?

I still am very much a Neptunes player and follow all the goings-on at my club.

Once the season is over in Italy, I will be back in Malta to play for Neptunes.