“Big goals for a small nation” – Karl Izzo on Malta’s league structure, national team & Aquatic Sports leadership

In this episode of the Waterpolo Expert Talk, Karl Izzo, President
of the Aquatic Sports Association of Malta, shares a comprehensive
and honest insight into how water polo and aquatic sports are
organized and developed in one of Europe’s smallest nations. Karl
begins by introducing his long journey in the sport. A former
national team player with over 90 international appearances, he
later transitioned into coaching, working with several Maltese
clubs before serving as head coach of the Maltese national team for
ten years. Under his leadership, Malta qualified four times for
European Championships – a historic achievement for the country.
Since November 2022, Karl has taken on a new role as federation
president, responsible not only for water polo, but also for
swimming, artistic swimming and open-water swimming. A central
theme of the episode is Malta’s unique league structure. Unlike
most European leagues, the Maltese water polo season is centered
around the summer months, when foreign players from top European
clubs join local teams. This creates a highly competitive and
attractive environment, allowing Maltese players to train and
compete alongside world-class athletes such as Filipović, Ivović or
Joković. Karl explains why this system works for Malta and how it
directly benefits the national team by raising the level of daily
competition. Karl also outlines the three-competition model in
Malta: a development-focused winter cup, a winter league without
foreign players, and the summer league with international stars.
This structure ensures playing time for young athletes while still
providing elite exposure during the summer. Upcoming adjustments
aim to further balance competitiveness, sustainability and player
development. The conversation then shifts toward national team
development. Karl explains why it is crucial for Maltese players to
compete abroad during the winter season in countries such as
Montenegro, Italy or Serbia. Playing year-round against stronger
opposition accelerates individual growth and directly strengthens
the national team during international tournaments. Another
important aspect is infrastructure and governance. Despite being a
small island nation with limited resources, Malta has invested
heavily in aquatic facilities, including multiple outdoor pools and
a new indoor venue to ensure year-round training. Karl highlights
the importance of close cooperation with government authorities and
local institutions to make such projects possible. As federation
president, Karl also discusses his transition from coach to
administrator. The role change, he admits, is challenging, but
necessary to influence the sport on a broader level. He speaks
about safeguarding policies, coach education programs,
certification systems and governance reforms designed to modernize
Maltese aquatic sports. The episode closes with Karl’s broader
vision: increasing participation, strengthening clubs, improving
youth pathways and ensuring long-term sustainability across all
aquatic disciplines. Despite financial and structural limitations,
his message is clear – with clear vision, cooperation and
commitment, even small nations can compete on an international
stage. This episode offers a deep, realistic and inspiring
perspective on how water polo can grow beyond traditional
powerhouses. More about the podcast: https://www.schulzekopp.de