This week happens to be the last where I bring to you another profile of one of the local international water polo referees. After looking at Messrs. Mario Dalli, Peter Balzan, Ivan Sciriha, Miro Caruana and Alex Deraffaele, it is now the turn, last but certainly not the least, of Mr. Massimo Angileri.

First of all I want to make it clear that there was no hidden intention or meaning in the order I used in this waterpolo series. Mario Dalli was the first to be profiled whilst Massimo Angileri is the last. Yet both are excellent game officials and both have a lot to contribute to the game, just like their fellow colleagues.

The fact that Malta can boast of six international waterpolo referees is surely no joke. I have to be honest that I, myself, was and sometimes is a bit critical for this amount, taking into consideration the total amount of local waterpolo officials around. Yet, if the ASA has managed to convince LEN and FINA that our local referees have the ability (obviously the referees themselves proved their worth in the selection processes), then it is a feather in the cap for this local association and deserves congratulations.

Opposed to the other five referees who are elder, Massimo happens to be only some months smaller than myself and thus I remember (from afar mostly as a waterpolo enthusiast and partly as an opponent, with limited potential, in the juniors category) him well growing up in the waterpolo field amongst the juniors and then the senior team of Valletta.

Massimo ultimately went into refereeing in a time also when Valletta were losing their composure in the late nineties. He gradually increased in his experience and then last year Massimo surely was in the seventh heaven when he took centre stage when he was entrusted with the officiating of the much expected and hyped league deciding game between Sliema and Neptunes.

Given the right environment and with a sound preparation Massimo will certainly follow in the footsteps of his seasoned colleagues. From this column I wish him a nice future in refereeing.

Name: Massimo Angileri

Place of Residence: Fgura

Date of Birth: 7 July 1971

Age: 33 years

Height: 6ft 2inches

Weight: 97 kilos

Marital status: Married

No. of children: 2 boys, Dymar 11 and Isaac 6

Languages spoken: English and Italian

Professional occupation: Shift leader at the Malta Freeport

Hobbies: Playing squash

Favourite food: Pasta

Favourite sports to watch other than waterpolo: Rugby

Referee since: 1999

First game ever refereed: it was a juniors match but I cannot remember the teams

National League referee since: 2002

First Top Division game ever refereed: Marsascala vs. Neptunes

FINA/LEN referee since: LEN from 2001 and FINA as from 2004

Career highlights: The Sliema vs. Neptunes league decider last year and the 2003 Knock-Out final between Marscala and Neptunes.

What is your background in waterpolo?

I was a waterpolo player with Valletta from the age of 10.

Why did you decide to become a referee?

Basically it was because I could not train consistently and regularly anymore due to work pressures and also because I really love the game of waterpolo.

How difficult is it to juggle a refereeing career with a professional working career?

I think it is very difficult in a country like Malta.

What for you is the toughest part of refereeing?

For me, the toughest part is when certain players and/or club officials swear or offend the referee without any reason and the referee then cannot respond back to these gestures.

What is the most enjoyable part?

I think that it is nice that following a hard and difficult game every one comes over to say ‘well done’, especially elements from the losing side

What do you hate about refereeing?

I really do not like when basically everyone has something to criticize and/or comment on the referee’s performance.

Influential people in your sports career:

I have to mention Joe Attard (Guzi L-Ors) as very influential to me in my playing days. Then I have to name Alan Bonello as a person that helped me a lot when I decided to take up refereeing.

What type of person (character-wise) makes a good referee? Someone with a very strong character an be a good referee.

Career/ best moment in waterpolo:

As a player I remember well the last league won with Valletta. On the other hand, as a referee, the Sliema vs. Neptunes 1st Division decider last year is my most treasured memory.

What advice would you offer to young people who want to reach the top level as a referee?

First of all you have to love the game itself. Then one needs to be strong character-wise and have a never say quit attitude.

Further comments:

I would like to make a plea to all players so that they learn to respect the referee because ultimately the referee is not a robot and can also make mistakes too.

Frisk retirement

I received some e-mails asking for my thoughts on the current proceedings of FIFA football referee Anders Frisk’ retirement and the battle of words going on between elements of UEFA’s refereeing body (and also ex-referees) and Chelsea’s manager Mourinho.

As this case had to be decided only yesterday by UEFA, I decided to wait for the proceedings before dedicating a column on this sad case where a top referee had to retire due to, I would say, criminal acts by certain people resorting to even death threats.

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