Kastellashasnodoubt:"We'llreturntoHaBaWaBa"

Their pool is closed due to the anti-Covid measures imposed by the Greek government, but in Kastellas they has no doubt: "Next June we will be at the HaBaWaBa International Festival". This announcement comes from Xenofontas Markopoulos, technical director of Kastellas, one of the three clubs in Piraeus: the other two are Olympiacos and Ethnikos. "We love HaBaWaBa, we have been there 5 times already and we look forward to go back there - Markopoulos continues - It’s a huge event, which our kids are waiting for all year long. Those who have already been there want to return. Many of them told me they wish not to grow up in order to go back there. And it's nice to see how they recommend to the younger children not to miss HaBaWaBa". 

The ingredients of HaBaWaBa that impressed the Kastellas’ kids are the same that help the Festival to go on since 2008. “It's the biggest event for kids in the world - Markopoulos explains -, to them it’s like some little Olympics. They can meet kids from other countries, face foreign teams and play many games in a week. And let's not forget that they are away from their families for the first time in their lives: that let them connect with each other and with the the other teams’ kids. They live together and learn how to behave. HaBaWaBa is truly unforgettable. I see that when the kids come back home: HaBaWaBa becomes the reason to love waterpolo even more and for many more years to come.  In Greece, Markopoulos has become a kind of HaBaWaBa testimonial. Probably because the Waterpolo Development event shares the same philosophy of Kastellas. "We are not a big club, but we are focused on children and young players - Markopoulos says - we aim to teach them how to become real athletes, we try to pass them the values of sport. Some of our kids will become champions, others won't: however, what matters is to give everyone the chance to do sport". Kastellas has 80 kids (boys and girls) from U15 to HaBaWaBa categories and also a section for U7 approaching to water sports. All of them train in the Andreas Garyfallos pool, which is currently closed. "But every afternoon we do online training sessions, it's a way to keep our community together. It’s very important to keep the team spirit high as much as we can, so as our shape. It's not the same thing as training in the pool, but we do our best". Training is important to Kastellas, the 13^th edition of HaBaWaBa International Festival awaits them on June (20th-27th). "Kids and parents went crazy when I said we registered for 2021 edition. HaBaWaBa is an important goal to focus on again, all together, to feel part of Kastellas".       

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