Building a Strong Aquatics Federation in Malta – Karl Izzo on Vision, Structure & Growth

In this episode of the Waterpolo Expert Talk, Karl Izzo, President
of the Aquatic Sports Association of Malta, shares his ambitious
vision for the future of water polo, swimming and aquatic sports in
Malta. Izzo speaks openly about the current situation of Maltese
water polo and his clear goal to move the men’s national team from
14th place into the European Top 12. To achieve this, his
administration is working simultaneously on senior national teams,
youth development, school programs, coach education and federation
structures. A major focus of the conversation is the grassroots
system: - Academies for U11 to U14 - Coaches working directly in
schools - Attracting children from football into aquatic sports -
Building a long-term pipeline of young players Izzo also talks
about the National Sports School, where selected athletes train in
semi-professional environments while continuing their education. In
addition, Malta is building new international partnerships,
including cooperation with a new European College of Sport opening
in 2024. Key topics of this episode include: - Youth development as
the foundation of national success - League reform and cooperation
between clubs and national teams - Media work, social media
presence and branding of Maltese aquatics - The introduction of
DJs, live atmosphere and fan engagement at matches - Financial
challenges of international participation - Participation in
European Championships, World Championships and World Cups - The
importance of LEN and World Aquatics representation - Why Malta
does not want favors – only fair recognition and respect Izzo also
explains why international camps, exchange programs and cooperation
with other federations, including Germany, are essential for
development. He emphasizes that visibility, collaboration and
international presence are the keys to long-term growth. This
episode offers a rare insight into how a small nation builds
sustainable aquatic sports structures in a global competition
environment. More about the podcast: https://www.schulzekopp.de ️
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