I refer to the two letters that appeared in last week’s issue of The Malta Independent on Sunday, one written by my friend John Xerri de Caro and the other by a Mr. G. Gatt, the pleasure of whose acquaintance I have yet to make.

In the first instance, I would like to make clear that I have absolutely no problem in confirming John’s assertion that I represent Neptunes on the ASA Council and that I was present (together with San Giljan’s president) during the particular meeting when a ruling was taken on the interpretation of rules concerning registration of foreign players. I would like to point out however, that there was never any overturning of the independent tribunal’s judgement given as a result of a protest made by Neptunes following an U-14 league match with San Giljan. Evidence of this is the fact that the result of the game in San Giljan’s favour was allowed to stand. I repeat that the implications of the independent tribunal’s decision went far beyond the U-14 game in question and could have seriously impinged on the other championships as well, most importantly the senior one. John’s inference of this being an autocratic decision rather than a democratic one is unfair, given that it was made by consensus at the said meeting.

I would also like to reiterate that my ‘crème de la crème’ description of the few San Giljan so-called supporters during the senior game between the two sides was neither arrogant nor elitist. It was a tongue in cheek definition of the few San Giljan hooligans who disrupted the game and was certainly not intended for the majority of SG supporters (with many of whom I have a mutually respectful and longstanding relationship) who support their team ‘in a most decent and civil manner’. Any offence caused these honest supporters, perceived or otherwise, is certainly regretted by myself. I am fully appreciative, and have stated this publicly many a time, of the efforts by the new SG administration to revive the club to the heights it enjoyed not so long ago and I certainly wish them well for the future seeing as the current two horse race situation is neither healthy nor sustainable for Maltese water polo. As for G. Gatt’s comments, I have only this to say. My contribution to the Man Up + TV programme is one of a pundit. The pundit’s job description does not include neutrality as Mr Gatt assumes in his letter. There are countless examples locally and abroad where TV pundits operate despite their declared support for one team or another (Mughini, Brera, Lineker and Mosca are but a few examples). The important thing is that one be objective at all times.

I have never made any attempt to hide my support of the Neptunes team (of which support I am justifiably proud) even on TV, but I challenge Mr Gatt to mention just one instance during my four-year involvement with the programme where I have been less than objective in my comments. If unable to do so, Mr Gatt should either put up or shut up. My mad dash (as described by G. Gatt) from the press box to the deck to celebrate my favourite team’s championship victory is today alas, a physical impossibility given my weight and age. My arrival on the pool deck was more the result of a slow amble than a mad dash I can assure him.

Be that as it may, I have always, during my stint with the Man Up + programme, been one of the first to congratulate the winners be they Neptunes or not, both at the pool and outside it. A fact that can be attested to by the players and officials concerned. The fact that this year it was the team I support that won the title entitled me to celebrate this achievement regardless of Mr Gatt’s cries of scandal.

With regard to Steve Camilleri, I will let the courts decide on whether the police were right or wrong in arraigning him. The reason why no action was taken by the ASA against him is simply because he was not accused of any misdemeanour in the reports made by the people that matter, ie, the referees and match inspectors. Or does Mr Gatt want us to believe that even these officials (one of them foreign) consider him to be untouchable?

On a final and more sombre note, allow me to take the opportunity to salute Toni Borg, the Ta Xbiex ASA council member who passed away a few days ago and who will be sorely missed by the local water polo fraternity. My sincere condolences to his family and to the Ta’ Xbiex water polo fraternity.

Martin Borg

MSIDA