Stevie Camilleri, Nikolai Zammit and Elena Borg claimed the most prestigious honours during the 2025 and 2026 Water Polo Players of the Year Awards, organised by the Aquatic Sports Association (ASA) and Bank of Valletta (BOV).
During the awards ceremony, the top players across all categories and divisions of the BOV Water Polo competitions were recognised. San Ġiljan player Nikolai Zammit was named Men’s Player of the Year for 2025, while Neptunes player Stevie Camilleri claimed the same honour for 2026. In the women’s category, San Ġiljan player Elena Borg was named Women’s Player of the Year for both 2025 and 2026.
Speaking during the Ceremony, ASA President Karl Izzo said that “The BOV Water Polo Player of the Year Awards are an occasion I personally value, as they provide an opportunity to recognise the dedication, sacrifices and determination of athletes who devote so much of their lives to our sport. Behind every achievement lie countless hours of training, personal sacrifices and an unwavering commitment to excellence, and I strongly believe that these efforts deserve to be celebrated and acknowledged. What makes these awards particularly meaningful is the inspiration they offer to younger generations, encouraging them to pursue their ambitions and strive for greater achievements. Bank of Valletta’s longstanding association with Maltese water polo continues to play an important role in giving our athletes the recognition they deserve. As President, nothing gives me greater satisfaction than witnessing the progress of our athletes and the continued development of a sport that holds such an important place in Malta’s sporting identity.”
Bank of Valletta’s Chief Operations Officer, Ernest Agius, spoke about the Bank’s commitment to supporting Maltese aquatic sports for almost two decades. “For more than eighteen years, Bank of Valletta has consistently supported the Aquatic Sports Association, reaffirming our commitment to the local sporting community. One milestone worth highlighting is the establishment of the girls’ academy, which we launched together with the ASA earlier this year. It is an honour for a leading Bank such as ours not only to support established players, but also to nurture emerging talent, ensuring that future generations can benefit from the training and resources provided by the ASA to further develop the sport. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all winners.”
The awards presented during the evening also covered the Under-14, Under-16, Under-18 and Under-20 youth categories, as well as referees and coaches, foreign players and goalkeepers of the year in both the BOV Premier League and the BOV First Division.
The full list of winners is found below:
Category | 2025 | 2026 |
U14 Player of the Year | Sam Camilleri Bowman | Miguel Polidano |
U16 Player of the Year | Benjamin Lewis | Benjamin Lewis |
U18 Player of the Year | Julian Chircop | Max Lanzon |
U20 Player of the Year | Elijah Schembri | Elijah Schembri |
Referee of the Year | Massimo Angileri | Ronnie Spiteri |
Women’s Player of the Year | Elena Borg | Elena Borg |
1st Div. Coach of the Year | Mijat Mijatovic | Jovan Popovic |
1st Div. Foreigner of the Year | Nikola Bogdanovic | Marko Radulovic |
1st Div. Goalkeeper of the Year | Jurgen Micallef | Matthew Sladden |
1st Div. Player of the Year | Max Lanzon | Max Aquilina |
Premier Div. Coach of the Year | Giorgios Katsaounis | Alexander Ciric |
Premier Div. Foreigner of the Year | Aaron Younger | Daniel Angyal |
Premier Div. Goalkeeper of the Year | Matthew Castillo | Matthew Castillo |
Premier Div. Player of the Year | Nikolai Zammit | Stevie Camilleri |
