Malta’s national water polo team “suffered greatly” to secure a historic 13th-place finish at the European Championship finals in Belgrade, according to head coach Milan Cirovic, who said the achievement deserved far greater recognition.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday to review the tournament, Cirovic described the final placing — Malta’s best-ever at a European Championship — as the product of extraordinary resilience both in and out of the pool.
“This achievement is much bigger than anyone can imagine,” Cirovic said. “These 14 players went through hell to reach 13th place. They were not only fighting opponents in the water, but also battling other challenges outside the pool. For that reason, I have immense respect for every single player.”
Malta endured a difficult start to the tournament, losing their opening three matches, before the squad was shaken by reports that several players were under investigation over alleged match-fixing. Despite the turmoil, the team regrouped and produced a flawless run in the positional play-offs, winning their final three matches to secure 13th place overall.
Cirovic thanked everyone who stood by the team during a testing period, saying the backing they received was crucial. He also praised his coaching staff, local clubs and fellow coaches for their ongoing work in raising the standard of water polo in Malta.
Aquatic Sports Association (ASA) president Karl Izzo also lauded the team’s response under pressure, saying their true tournament began in the final phase.
“Our championship really started in the last three days, during the positional play-offs, and that is where the character of this team truly emerged,” Izzo said. “With everything that was happening around them over those ten days, the players showed remarkable mental strength and unity. Winning three out of three against strong opponents is no small feat, and they deserve full credit.”
Izzo noted that Malta’s earlier defeats came against Hungary, Montenegro and France — teams that ultimately demonstrated their quality.
“Anyone who understands the game will agree that Malta delivered very respectable performances against Hungary and Montenegro, who finished second and seventh respectively,” Izzo said. “France also proved to be superior, and in hindsight our expectations of winning that match were perhaps too ambitious.”
The ASA president praised the work of Cirovic, assistant coach Jonathan Valletta and national team director Chris Sladden, while also highlighting the contributions of captain Stevie Camilleri, who finished fourth in the tournament’s top scorers’ chart. Special mention was also given to Matthew Zammit and Ivan Nagaev, who made his competitive debut for Malta during the championship.
Izzo added that the result was built on thorough preparation, including international friendlies in Portugal and a training camp in Slovenia.
“This outcome did not happen by chance,” he said. “It is the result of sustained hard work from players, coaches and clubs alike.”
ASA appoints lawyer over match-fixing probe
During the press conference, The Maltese Herald asked about the match-fixing allegations that overshadowed the team’s campaign. Izzo said there were no new developments to report at this stage but confirmed that the ASA had taken concrete steps to address the matter.
“We have engaged lawyer Herman Mula to oversee this issue from an integrity standpoint,” Izzo said. “I believe he is the right person to ensure that this matter is handled properly and transparently.”
The ASA reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the integrity of the sport as investigations continue.
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