The summer water polo league reaches a boiling point this weekend as Sliema ASC and San Ġiljan face off in a mouth-watering top-of-the-table encounter. Both sides enter the highly anticipated match with perfect records, four wins from four and 12 points apiece, setting the stage for a showdown that could shape the title race.
Malta Sport visited both camps in the lead up to the clash and spoke to the head coaches of the two unbeaten teams.
For Sliema, coach Giannis Katrouzanakis is fully aware of the magnitude of the fixture following his side’s hard-fought victory over Neptunes. “It’s a real test of character,” he said, underlining the mental and tactical resilience required to overcome a side like San Ġiljan. With momentum on their side, Sliema are aiming to turn consistency into supremacy and take sole lead of the league.
Meanwhile, in the San Ġiljan camp, coach Giorgos Katsaounis acknowledged the strength of the opposition while maintaining his side’s ambitious outlook. “We need to work in all aspects of the game to beat such a good team like Sliema,” he remarked. But he was equally candid about the stakes. “We are San Ġiljan, and there is always pressure. I came here for this kind of challenge.”
A look at the recent head-to-head record between the two sides adds extra intrigue to the occasion. In 2025 alone, the teams have met three times, and it is San Ġiljan who holds the edge. They claimed two wins, beating Sliema 16 to 14 in May and 12 to 10 in March, both matches played at Tal Qroqq. Sliema did manage to hit back with a dominant 16 to 9 victory in January, also at the same venue. The balance tilts slightly in San Ġiljan’s favour, but with both sides in top form, history alone may not be enough to predict the outcome.
The match is not only a test of tactics and talent but of temperament too. With both sides boasting depth, experience, and flair, the game promises to deliver a high-octane battle in the pool, one that fans will not want to miss.
