Balluta Bay derby on Day 1

The Balluta Bay derby between freshly crowned winter champions San Giljan TUM Invest and their neighbours Neptunes Leo Vegas is the main encounter on the opening day of the national league which is to start on Tuesday and Wednesday 6 and 7 June.

The ASA has welcomed back into its fold the club from Birzebbuga after their absence from competitive waterpolo for a long number of years. They will be taking part in the first division.

Their inclusion beings the number of teams in the ASA fold to 11 – six in the Premier League and five in the first division.

The draws for both the Premier League and the First Division were made yesterday evening at the ASA offices at Tal-Qroqq.

In the other opening day’s matches, it will be Sirens-Valletta and Exiles Jetfreight-Sliema Frank Salt Real Estate.

The First Division is composed of five teams, that is, Birzebbuga, Marsascala Transcripta, Marsaxlokk Fischer, Otters Nivea and Ta’ Xbiex Amigos.

On the opening day, it will be Otters-Marsaxlokk and B’BugaMarsascala. The following is the opening round’s programme of matches at the Tal-Qroqq Pool:

Tuesday 6 June: First Division Otters Nivea-Marsaxlokk Fischer; Premier League Sirens-Valletta.

Wednesday 7 June: First Division Birzebbuga-Marsascala Transcripta; Premier League San Giljan TUM Invest-Neptunes Leo Vegas; Exiles Jetfreight-Sliema Frank Salt Real Estate.

Bank of Valletta will again be sponsoring the competitions.

ASA president Joe Caruana Curran said that after the recently concluded winter league which was quite exciting, the summer leagues should prove to be very keen, thus making the championship very attractive.

Anthony Scicluna, of Bank of Valletta, said it was always the Bank’s pleasure to be associated with waterpolo. “Moreover, the return of Birzebbuga is something we are looking forward to,” he added.

At the end of the conference and draws, BoV and the Referees Association signed a new three-year sponsorship contract. Mario Dalli, on behalf of the referees, and Mr Scicluna, on behalf of BoV, signed the contract.