MVP Rabb, Azzurrini: at the U16 WC the HaBaWaBa Stars of the future
The Hungarian elected best player of the tournament in Malta and as many as 14 playes of silver medalist Italy were at the Lignano event as kids
In the coming years Waterpolo Development will need the facade of a building for the wall dedicated to HaBaWaBa Stars, the international waterpolo players who participated in the Lignano Sabbiadoro event as children. The number of Stars, in fact, is bound to rise. This is also evidenced by what happened at the last U16 men’s World Championships in Malta, which ended last Monday.Players of U16 National team of Italy holding the silver medal of Malta 2024.Benedek Rabb and the bronze medal of Malta 2024.
As many as 14 out of 15 players of U16Italy National team, which played a resounding tournament and won the silver medal, had at least one experience at HaBaWaBa: Italo Postiglione (one time with Latina, 3 with Posillipo winning the PLUS 2022), Francesco Corelli (4 with the Roma Vis Nova and one with Lazio, which nowadays he plays for), Bruno Bordone (Ortigia), Federico Fumo (Trieste), Giorgio Marangolo (Ekipe Orizzonte and Muri Antichi, today he plays for Catania), Angelo Filippo Sicali (Ekipe Orizzonte, nowadays he plays with Ortigia), Leonardo Madaschi (Onda Blu), Pasquale Porzio (Acquachiara), Paolo Balzarini (Brescia), Antonio Chianese (Aqavion, nowadays he plays at Rari Nantes Salerno), Giulio Bianchi (Florentia), Federico Giovannini (Roma Vis Nova), Pedro Puleo (Waterpolo Palermo and Pallanuoto Salerno, nowadays he plays with Telimar), Stefano Scarmi (Rari Nantes Verona, nowadays he’s a Pro Recco player).
Also Benedek Rabb boasts a long past at HaBaWaBa: he is a talented player of U16 Hungary National team who, in addition to the bronze medal, also won the MVP award of the tournament in Malta. He gave some tremendous performances, such as the one in the bronze medal final against Montenegro, when he scored 8 goals (he scored 9 against Serbia in the quarterfinals): he participated in 5 editions of HaBaWaBa with KSI, coached at tha time by Ildiko Szedlmayer.
The biggest youth water polo event in the world: for U9, U11 and U13, held every year in Lignano Sabbiadoro (UD) and drawing teams from five continents.
When is the next Festival?
From 13 to 20 June the week for U9 and U11, from 20 to 27 June the week for U13.
Do boys and girls play together?
U9 and U11 tournaments include girls’, boys’ and mixed teams. The U13 event is split into a girls-only tournament and one for boys-only or mixed teams.
How do you enter the Festival?
Open the page of the event for your team (U9-U11 or U13) and follow the Registration Guide: it contains the information, duties, costs and deadlines. A club can enter more than one team in a single tournament.
Where do teams stay during the Festival?
Teams, made up of players, coaches and officials, all stay inside Bella Italia & EFA Village. Parents, family and supporters travelling with the team can enter the village by paying admission.
What is the Champion’s Passport?
It is a code of ethics: the values of sport to respect in order to be part of the HaBaWaBa community.
What is the aim of the HaBaWaBa project?
To spread the values of sport among children and create a deep bond with water polo through an unforgettable experience.
