New format launched for waterpolo national championships to mark ASA Centenary celebrations

The Aquatic Sports Association of Malta, in collaboration with Bank of Valletta, announced a new dynamic format for the BOV Waterpolo competitions to mark the 100th anniversary of the local governing body.

This was announced by Karl Izzo, the Aquatic Sports Association of Malta president, in the presence of Ernest Agius, Chief Operations Officer at Bank of Valletta, ASA vice-president Andrew Paris and general secretary General George Farrugia during a press conference in the presence of club representatives.

“The revamp of the competitions is aimed to enhance competitiveness, increase fan engagement, and elevate the standard of the game across all participating clubs,” said the ASA president.

“The new format will also see the top performing clubs of the previous season benefitting from direct participation in the BOV Premier League with the top-placed clubs in the BOV First Division League having the opportunity to play for promotion to the BOV Premier League,” Izzo explained.

The top four-placed clubs from last season, champions Sliema, San Ġiljan, Neptunes and Sirens will automatically participate in the BOV Premier League.

The bottom two clubs of the top division, Valletta and Birzebbuga, will play a round robin with the top two placed teams in last year’s First Division League last year, namely champions Marsaxlokk and Exiles.

The two top-placed clubs in this round robin will then proceed to take part in the BOV Premier League.

Ta‘ Xbiex, Otters, Marsascala and Barracudas will play directly in the BOV First Division League.

The teams in each division will compete in a double round-robin format, with the top four teams advancing to the playoffs scheduled between August 26 and 30.

Each club will have one foreign player on their books, and a number world renowned players have been engaged by local clubs.

The traditional Santa Marija week in August will be an intensive week for local waterpolo where the knockout competitions for both divisions will be played with the finals being held on August 14.

The BOV Championship will be played under the new competition rules with a smaller 25-metre pitch and a shorter possession and second attack time.

This will likely lead to faster transitions between attack and defence, making counter-attacks more frequent, favouring aggressive offensive strategies and discouraging prolonged build-up.

The BOV Women’s League will be played concurrently throughout the summer where the three competing teams, Sirens, Sliema and San Giljan will compete for the BOV ASA Centenary Cup.

The ASA is celebrating their 100th anniversary just one year after BOV celebrated its 50th – and the two organisations hold a longstanding and influential place in Maltese culture, according to BOV COO Ernest Agius.

“Bank of Valletta is proud to have been a main sponsor of the ASA since 2008, a partnership that has seen the successful development of the game as evident in the level of play both at domestic level and on the international playing field, where just this week we have just seen Malta qualify for the European Championships for the sixth consecutive time,” Agius said.

PLAYING ON SATURDAY

Birżebbuġa vs Exiles            17.30

San Ġiljan vs Sirens             18.45

Sliema vs Neptunes            20.00