From HaBaWaBa to Italian A1 league, to the games played with the Italian National youth and junior team and, above all, to the call for the Italian Settebello. This is the story of Michele Mezzarobba, 17, one of the most interesting promises of Italian waterpolo. A talent exploded as many others at the HaBaWaBa International Festival: Mezzarobba played with Trieste the 2009, 2010 and 2011 editions, catching the attention of both the public and the coaches of other teams. We talked with him to recall those experiences in Lignano a few days after the end of the Settebello training in Pescara.
“Training with Settebello is an hard experience, I swam 4 km per day, but it was amazing: Campagna makes you understand that you have to work hard, at very high intensity, to become member of the Settebello”.
Did it ever cross your mind to become a member of the Italian National team while you were playing the HaBaWaBa International Festival?
Absolutely not. At that time I was used to watch great champions like Valentino Gallo or Niccolò Gitto only on tv. Nowadays I can train along with them: it’s a great achievement.
Mezzarobba during a Settebello training
What was waterpolo to you when you were 11?
It was a hobby, something that brought me a lot of fun. I didn’t feel the slightest pressure, I was amused and I wasn’t sad after a defeat. By the way, waterpolo has become an increasingly important part of my life and currently it’s the center of that.
What did you gain from the Festival?
I realized how much I liked waterpolo. Playing every day against strong teams, in that kind of tournament, has made my passion even greater. Daniel Podgornik, who is also my teammate in Trieste nowadays, was with me there. We often remember those games, especially the one against the selection of Montenegro: before playing I was afraid, those children looked as giants to me. But it has always been nice to compete with teams from other nations.
What are your memories of HaBaWaBa outside of the water?
Those at HaBaWaBa were my first trips with my teammates: I learned to be in a team, to taste what it means to be in a group of players.
Do you think that without HaBaWaBa your relationship with waterpolo would be different?
The Festival has made me love this sport, it has increased my passion. I’ve been twice the top scorer of the Festival and that gave me confidence, I realized I can play waterpolo. I saw my way, I acknowledged I wished to be a waterpolo player.
Is there anything that you would say to the children who will attend the 10th edition?
Kids, have fun: waterpolo is a great sport, at HaBaWaBa International Festival you will kwow it better.
