Nine teams are this year taking part in the national championship which is to start on Friday 6 June.

These are Neptunes Vodafone, Sliema McDonald’s, Sirens Centro Casalinga, Ta’ Xbiex Mermaids Paradise, Marsaxlokk Freeport, San Giljan Tropicana Juices, Marsascala Ocean and Sky, Exiles Elle-et-Vire and Otters ASC.

Robbie Ebejer, ASA president, yesterday told a news conference on the occasion of the draws, that the league will be played as usual with the opening preliminary round involving all the teams which will be followed by a two-round league for the top four clubs and another one round league for the remaining clubs.

Ebejer said the competition will start earlier than usual as in September, Malta will be staging the Comen Cup for which four teams have already confirmed their participation. These are Rari Nantes of Naples and the national teams of Switzerland, Great Britain and Turkey. National teams who did not qualify for the European Championship are elibigle to take part as well as club teams.

The ASA president said he hoped the Malta tournament will attract another three teams for a very interesting event to be held over four days at the Tal-Qroqq Pool. Ebejer also revealed that the ASA had accepted an invitation to take part in a tournament in Bilbao just one week after the Malta tournament. “They had to take part in our event. But unfortunately they had to cancel their participation and, instead, they invited us to take part in their tournament. We have accepted and we believe it will be a good event for us in the knowledge that next year we will be taking part in the European B championships,” said Ebejer.

The ASA president thanked the sponsors, the Bank of Valletta, through whose financial sponsorship, such a championship was possible. “Thanks to them we are continually improving our standings, both at administrative and playing levels,” he added.

The draws

When the draws were made, San Giljan and Marsaxlokk were drawn to face each other on the opening match of the first weekend’s programme, that is, on Friday 6 June.

That will be followed by the Sliema-M’scala encounter. On the following day, Neptunes face neighbours Exiles while Sirens take on Ta’ Xbiex.

Gozitan club Otters will only enter the fray on 5 July. They will only play against M’scala, Ta’ Xbiex, Exiles and Marsaxlokk.

The big match between the local two top clubs, Sliema and Neptunes, is scheduled to be played on Friday 4 July.

There might also be some changes to the programme which is still to be approved by the ASA Council.

Meanwhile, the coming weekend, the matches for the Ghaqda Kittieba Sports Cup as well as for the President’s Cup, are being played at the Tal-Qroqq Pool. Gate receipts from these two matches will go towards the Community Chest Fund.

At 5pm, Sirens will be facing San Giljan in the match for the Ghaqda Kittieba Sports Cup, while at 6.30pm, Sliema face rivals and newly crowned winter champions Neptunes in the match for the President’s Cup.

Also addressing the press conference were Bank of Valletta’s Head at the CEO’s Office, Michael Galea, and the Parliamentary Secretary for Sport, Mr Clyde Puli.

Mr Galea said that after the conclusion of the successful winter league, everyone was now looking forward to the start of the main competition. He said the Bank was hopeful that it will again be an outstanding success.

Mr Puli commended Bank of Valletta for being in the forefront in helping local sport. He also congratulated Steve Camilleri of Neptunes and Darren Ciappara of Marsascala who were named Players of the Year for the first and second divisions in 2007 and who received their trophies yesterday.