Stevie Camilleri back in waterpolo national team for upcoming international commitments

Stevie Camilleri is back with the Malta waterpolo national team after the veteran player was selected by the Aquatic Sports Association for the team’s upcoming commitments in the SportMalta Christmas Cup as well as the World Aquatics World Cup Division Two.

The Neptunes stalwart has been missing from the national team set up since August 2022 when he had informed the ASA on his intention of not forming part of then coach Karl Izzo’s selection for European Championship finals that were held in Split, Croatia.

At that time, Camilleri was one of four players who had pulled out of the squad, with the others being Jordan Camilleri, Jerome Gabaretta, and Jake Muscat.

However, on Thursday the ASA announced that Camilleri was back in the Malta national team squad after being selected for the upcoming international commitments.

Sources have told the Times of Malta that in the past few days Chris Sladden, who was recently appointed as the new Team Manager of the national side, as well as ASA president Karl Izzo and national coach Milan Cirovic held talks with Camilleri and an agreement was reached for the prolific goalscorer to return in the national team selection.

No doubt, the addition of Stevie Camilleri will be a major boost for coach Cirovic as he will be able to bank on arguably one of the best Maltese players in the last two decades while his vast experience will help the young players to grow in the national team selection.

Malta will face Slovenia, Slovakia and Portugal in the SportMalta Christmas Cup between December 13 and 15 at the Cottonera Sports Complex as preparation for their commitments in the World Aquatics World Cup Division Two where they will play Germany and Singapore in Istanbul between December 18 and 21 in Istanbul.

The squad

Stevie Camilleri, Mark Castillo, Sam Gialanze (all Neptunes); Jeremy Abela, Jake Bonavia, Russell Caruana, Jake Tanti, Darren Zammit, Nikolai Zammit (San Ġiljan); Matthias Azzopardi, Matthew Du Puis, Jake Cachia, Gianni Farrugia, Zach Mizzi, Jerome Zerafa Gregory (all Sirens) Benjamin Busuttil, Benjamin Cachia, Jayden Cutajar, Andreas Galea, Liam Galea, Elijah Schembri (all Sliema); Matthew Mifsud (Valletta).