Matthias Agius recently represented the U20 Sliema team at the prestigious Tibor Benedek Tournament in Hungary. Although this was not his first experience playing water polo in Hungary, having previously participated in specialised training sessions against established Hungarian teams, this occasion marked his selection as part of the official U20 Sliema squad competing in the annual tournament.

The Tibor Benedek Tournament is held each year in remembrance of one of water polo’s greatest players, who sadly passed away in 2020. Sliema continues to receive invitations to participate in honour of Benedek’s time playing in Malta with the club in 2006.

This year’s tournament featured eight teams from Hungary, Italy, and Malta. The level of competition was extremely high, particularly from the Hungarian sides, who demonstrated strong physical presence and an impressive ability to adapt quickly to the rhythm of the game. Despite facing physically superior opponents, the team gave their best throughout the tournament and delivered strong performances against quality opposition.

The experience proved invaluable for Matthias, providing him with important high-level match exposure and an opportunity to further strengthen his bond with his teammates.