Redemption was high on the agenda for San Ġiljan this season, after allowing Sliema to nip in and steal the honours last year.
For a club of San Ġiljan’s stature, falling short was a sting that demanded a response… and they delivered emphatically.
Success in life never comes easy. That timeless dictum applies no less to the sport of waterpolo, where every triumph is preceded by painstaking preparation, sacrifice, and vision.
San Ġiljan’s resurgence is a testament to all three.
In a bold move, the club chose to break from the past and entrusted the team’s helm to Giorgos Katsaounis, appointing the Greek tactician as head coach.
It has proven to be a masterstroke. Katsaounis has become a central figure – if not the cog in the Saints’ wheel – guiding them to their 11th Knock Out Cup title with a commanding 16-10 win over rivals Neptunes on Thursday.
It wasn’t all plain sailing. The Saints endured a brief but bumpy ride in the early stages of the summer competition.
But once they found their rhythm, they tuned their engine and navigated the rest of the campaign with precision and confidence.
A calm and composed figure, Katsaounis has instilled a sense of tranquillity into his squad, reflected in San Ġiljan’s improved discipline and composure.
They have conceded fewer fouls in key areas and granted their opponents fewer man-up situations.
Perhaps more importantly, they avoided the kind of in-the-water incidents that, last year, spiralled into off-the-pool controversies – distractions that ultimately cost them silverware.
“My agenda is winning,” Katsaounis said.
“Since my arrival in March, the main targets have always been to win all trophies.”
The Greek mentor was crystal clear in his mission: restore a winning mentality at a club that had fallen short in both the league and Knock-Out competitions the previous year.
“San Ġiljan missed out on the league and KO titles last year, and for me, the priority was to help the players rediscover this sense of winning,” he explained.
Katsaounis is a firm believer in hard work, discipline, and the right mindset – not just from the players, but the entire technical setup.
“Consistency is key. I wanted to ensure that the team maintained a high level of performance throughout the season without any dips in form. And you can only achieve that through hard work – there’s no other way, believe me,” he insisted.
On the deck, Katsaounis displays a tense, focused demeanour.
But when contesting decisions with referees, a more relaxed and light-hearted version of the Greek coach emerges – proof of his ability to balance intensity with calm.
“What I don’t want is for my players to lower their guard,” he said.
“That’s why I was angry in the two matches before the final – against Valletta and Sirens. I don’t want us to take any game for granted. I respect our opponents – they don’t need any favours.”
“I wasn’t nervous. I was angry because I know the value of my players and what they’re capable of. And in the final against Neptunes, we stepped up, gave 100%, played with our hearts on our sleeves – and it showed in how we won.”
Most would agree that Neptunes underperformed in the Knock-Out final – and will be a different proposition in the upcoming Premier Division Play-off final.
Katsaounis is fully aware of that. His focus has already shifted from celebration to preparation.
“These are two different competitions,” he said.
“Today we celebrate. But from tomorrow, we’ll start working on how to beat Neptunes again. This job – the Knock-Out title – is done. But we’re not finished yet. The most important challenge of the season is still ahead of us, and we need to keep our feet on the ground.”
Agreed. But there’s no better way to begin preparations for a title-deciding series than with a morale-boosting, statement win over your fiercest rivals.
