Watch: Sliema ASC’s rise from a 15-year slump to waterpolo heroes

Sliema ASC have been exasperating their proud supporters ever since 2009 when a great generation of Sliema players made of John Soler, Jonathan Valletta, Clint Mercieca, Jerome Gabaretta and goalkeeper Josie Cachia carried off the local waterpolo honours in style for a second successive year.

No one would have imagined that would be the end of an era.

Since then, Sliema have been blessed with another golden generation, which, for all its undoubted talent, has repeatedly failed to deliver the expected riches and John Brownrigg has become a habitué of runners-up ceremonies with the unenviable task as a captain to collect the losers’ trophy.

So, this year, no-one would have blamed the pundits for putting their money on the star-studded side of San Ġiljan.

Yet, when the Saints got stuck on off-water polemics, the Blues exploited the situation to turn on the steam and wind up the season in style, carrying off their 32^nd championship cup in their glorious history.

“I have been waiting for this moment 15 years to climb the podium and receive the coveted cup,” an emotional Brownrigg told the Times of Malta.

“Today was our day from start to finish, I am so proud of the boys and the support behind us was amazing. Thank God, everything worked out for us. We are champions…finally,” he added.

Thus, the Blues ended a drought which was becoming uncomfortably long by their own standards. And the team from Għar id-Dud did it with a team effort and conviction to which all the other teams had no answer.

“When in the finals, our foreign was closed down by the opponents’ tight marking, we demonstrated that it was not a one-man band, but we had a full squad. We are one great family” he insisted.

That team spirit was blended with the necessary physical qualities and tactical skills under the direction of Giannis Katrouzanakis.

Although Sliema had been waiting 15 years, Sliema President George Gregory brought the much-awaited success in his first year in office. Yet, the Sliema supremo did not want to take credit himself for this double success.

“Let’s say I was at the right place at the right time. You do not build a winning team in one season. This is all hard work of our academy. Just look at the players who has put their names on the scoresheet today,” he explained.

In fact although the core players worked efficiently, the younger group filled in the game without ever disrupting the equilibrium of the team.

Dino Zammit, Andreas Galea, Jamie Gambin, Benji Cachia, Jayden Cutajar, Liam Galea and Zach Mizzi have supplied the fire this season but the tailenders (if can be named as such), Elijah Schembri, Jayden Cassar, Daniel Rizzo and Sam Engerer, all coming from the academy, have all put in more than their fair share. 

Nicky Grixti also did his duty but when second-choice goalkeeper Matthew Castillo was called into the water, an unlikely hero for Sliema came to the forefront.

“It was a fairy tale start to my stint in this Sliema team. At first, I was Nicky’s understudy but then, I took my chance to shine,” Castillo explained.

“We are a bit shaky at first. But the fact, we were without foreigner until the last stages of the competition, strengthened our belief that we can compete with the other top guns, and we gelled together as a unit,” he added.

Sliema’s superior quality came to the fore at the end, but had it not been for a string of spectacular saves from Castillo during the decisive matches against San Ġiljan, the Blues won’t have celebrated a double at the end of the season.

The grit shown by Castillo every time he made a vital block, has filled everyone with courage at Sliema.

The recipe of Sliema’s success was not just determination and their insatiable desire to inscribe their name again in the honours’ list but the team also possessed the right physical qualities and tactical skills needed to achieve such a feat.

Liam Galea embodies these attributes that made Sliema a success story this season.

Galea has produced some eye-catching goals this season with a series of backhand gems.

“We worked very hard for this objective. I was ready to do whatever it takes. It’s our turn to celebrate today,” he said.

Indeed, now that they have finally shrug off the perennial underachievers’ tag, the Sliema fans hope that they don’t have to wait another 15 years for the next title!