Team Malta U16 have made history by finishing in 11th place at the Water Polo World Cup in Zagreb, Croatia, recording Malta’s best-ever placing at this level.
The young Maltese side produced an impressive campaign, winning five matches against China, Mexico, South Africa, New Zealand and Turkey.
Malta’s only defeats came against Croatia and Hungary, two of the leading nations in junior water polo. Croatia went on to reach the gold medal match.
The 11th-place finish represents a significant achievement for Maltese water polo, particularly given the limited preparation time available to the squad before the tournament.
ASA President Karl Izzo praised the players and technical staff for their efforts.
“We are incredibly proud of these boys. To finish 11th in the world out of 36 participating nations and winning five games is a miracle given our preparation. They showed heart, discipline, and the true spirit of Malta. This is just the beginning.”
The Malta Aquatic Sports Association also acknowledged the contribution of the technical team, comprising Head Coach Paul Privitera, Assistant Coach David Cutajar, Goalkeeper Coach Stephen Rizzo, Physiotherapist Keith Magro and Team Manager Silvio Borg.
The association extended its thanks to the Maltese clubs for their continued work and investment in their nurseries, as well as to the Maltese supporters who travelled to Zagreb and backed the team throughout the tournament.
The Team Malta U16 squad is scheduled to return to Malta on Monday, 10 August, arriving at 12:55pm.
The historic 11th-place finish provides further evidence of the progress being made in Maltese youth water polo, with the players now returning home after a tournament in which they competed successfully against some of the world’s leading junior teams.
Sports Editor
Veteran Journalist
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