THE INIMITABLE STYLE OF GLORIA MIZZI - MaltaRightNow.com

| SPORTS |
TOP LEFT: TYPICAL SAVE BY ADRIAN CACHIA FOR
NEPTUNES.
KINGS OF
THE SEA
CHARLES CAMENZULI meets the Cachia family.
ABOVE: ADRIAN CACHIA IN ACTION
RIGHT: SIMON CACHIA - PROMINENT WITH
MARSAXLOKK WPC
‘Neptune’: according to Roman mythology the definition
is ‘King of the seas’. Neptune is also the third largest
planet in the galaxy. Hailing from the Neptunes
Waterpolo Pitch, the Cachia family, long associated
with this club, is definitely the largest on the Maltese
waterpolo scene.
The 2 nd World War exodus from the Cottonera area
included the Cachia family who like others moved to
settle in St, Julian’s. For half a century, the Cachia
surname has been synonymous with the waterpolo
scene in St. Julian’s, and within the Neptunes’ clan
established a dynasty well worthy of being stamped as ‘
Kings at Sea’.
The forerunners of the Cachia Waterpolo history were
Harry, Josie, Victor, Tony and Paul. According to media
colleague and waterpolo historian Leonard Zammit, in
his publication to commemorate the 75 th Anniversary
of Neptunes WPC, “another family name which has
left its mark on the club’s history is Cachia. However,
there is a distinctive and more versatile imprint which
is carried here. The Cachias are associated with all
that waterpolo offers – playing, administrative and
refereeing contributions.”
For the Cachia family members, the Neptunes’ clubhouse
soon became their second home. Back in the
50’s and 60’s both Victor and Paul figured in various
Neptunes’ formations. Josie in the 50’s was Neptunes’
goalkeeper in the reserves league, while Victor also
formed part of the Neptunes swimming team that
went on to win various aggregate cups and National
Championships. With Neptunes, Paul won two League
titles and 4 K.O Competitions. In 1972-73, he played for
Balluta W.P.C (now San Giljan WPC) where he finished
as the club’s top-scorer for both seasons and joint top
scorer with Guzi ‘l-Ors’ Attard in the 1973 National
League. Tony, who chose to opt for the administration
of the club, was so successful in that role that he went
on to become a long-standing Secretary of Neptunes
WPC for a total of 14 years, until 1985. He was again
re-elected for the 1991-1993 term of office.
When Victor and Paul’s playing days were over, they
went on to become waterpolo referees, qualified both
within the A.S.A and as international referees with the
Ligue Europeenne de Natation (LEN) - the leading
body of European waterpolo. And a new generation of
the Cachia family went on to have a further impact on
local sports.
Henry, Stephen and Julian, sons of Harry, the elder
of the Cachia’s, chose to become leading figures in
hockey - both members and players with Sliema
Hotsticks. Victor’s sons Anthony and Edward as well
as Tony’s sons Adrian and Leonard together with Paul’s
sons Paul and Simon took up waterpolo.
Henry and Stephen, under the guidance of Augustus
Tortell and the late Alfred Crockford, following success
at U-14 and U-16 level, were the backbone of Sliema
Hotsticks. Stephen championed with his runs down
the right wing and Henry right in the heart of the
defence. Together with Sliema they won three League
Championships, four Knock-Out competitions, one
Challenge Trophy and two Super Cups. In October
1994, they led the Malta National team in the 1 st
Mediterranean Cup in Sicily for the tie against Italy. That
day was Malta’s return on hockey’s international scene
after 20 years. Stephen retired from competitive hockey
in 2003, though Henry is still a permanent figure in the
Sliema HS defence. Ignoring hockey, Michael and John
VICTOR CACHIA
COACHING
PAUL CACHIA
TONY CACHIA
36 L&S | SEPTEMBER ’06