Dorian Pisani – Head Coach
Dorian Pisani is the senior coach of our men’s team. Born on the 17th April 1968, Mr. Pisani is an experienced Maltese coach who has won a number of honors and other important achievements as a player and also as a coach with clubs such as Neptunes, Sirens, Exiles and M’Scala. As a player, Dorian is surely remembered as an incredible shooter but also a very intelligent player who has won 6 championships for Neptunes apart from another 2 championships with M’Scala and Sirens at the later stages of his career. As a coach he achieved important results for Exiles and most recently for M’Scala amongst others. Away from his duties as a waterpolo coach, Mr. Pisani is a supporter of Chelsea FC. Mr. Pisani’s message to the San Giljan supporters is the following, “We will never give up!! With the support you always gave the team we will fight till the last whistle. We need you behind us and we will achieve together. Thank you each and every one of you for being with us every game. We will play our games to the best of our ability to bring back what belongs to us. VSG.”
Silvio Borg – Team Manager
Silvio Borg is the Team Manager at San Giljan. Born on the 6th May 1972, Silvio has returned to the club in this role after an absence from waterpolo for ten years. The nephew of Carm Borg and Anglu Tonna (ex San Giljan Champions), Silvio is a Giljaniz who has played a number of years with San Giljan but also played for Neptunes and Exiles in his career. He has won a number of honors with these clubs, but particularly the three leagues with San Giljan in the early 90s. Away from his duty as Team Manager, he enjoys playing tennis and is a supporter of AC Milan. Silvio’s message to the San Giljan supporters is the following, “I never imagined I would re-live the beautiful feeling of being part of a team that is so lucky to have supporters like you. I will never forget the years I played with San Giljan, especially the supporters who gave me the shivers over and over again with all their shouting and singing ‘Hadd ma jista’ ghalina.’ May will live together many more of these days and I hope to do my part in helping San Giljan to many more championships. VSG.”
Edward Bonello
Edward Bonello is a physiotherapist by professions and has been with San Giljan in this role since 2017. Born on the 10th September 1993, Edward follows our senior squad on a regular basis and is also the trainer of our senior players during their gym sessions. Apart from other things, Edward makes an individual programme for each player which also includes the aspect of injury prevention. This ensures that our players are injured the least possible and are able to perform at their best. He also follows and intervenes on any injuries our players might have from time to time. Edward is also currently the physiotherapist of our National Team. Apart from his duties with the team and his main job as a physiotherapist, Edward enjoys keeping fit and attends the gym himself on a regular basis. Edward’s message to the San Giljan supporters, “We thrive off the support you guys give us. Keep it going so we can push harder and harder. VSG”
Andreas Galea
Andreas Galea is the son of Anthony Galea (Toni l-iswed) who is an ex San Gilajn champion. Born on the 17th September 1996, Andreas started playing waterpolo at 13 years old with San Giljan. He worked his way up through the junior teams and also played as a shared athlete with Ta Xbiex for one season in which Andreas also won the 1st Division Player of the Year award. Back with San Giljan Andreas became part of our senior squad and has won 2 Leagues, 4 Knock-Outs, 3 Presidents’ Cup, 3 Winter Leagues and 2 Enemed Cup. Andreas is also currently a National Team player. Out of the water Andreas is a swimming coach and his free time he enjoys a football match with friends, spending time with his family and going abroad. Andreas’ message to the San Giljan supporters is the following, “The feeling winning a championship gives you is incredible and I would like to go through this journey of fighting for the league and winning it once again with all of you. Thank you for all the motivation you give us from the stands especially when these are full of our supporters. VSG.”
Ben Plumpton
Ben Plumpton is an exciting and versatile player who is fulfilling the promise as one of the most talented youngsters in the local waterpolo scene. Born on the 16th February 1998, Ben started playing waterpolo at 10 years old at M’Scala before joining San Giljan at the age of 13. He has won 2 Leagues, 4 Knock-Outs, 3 Presidents’ Cup, 3 Winter Leagues and 2 Enemed Cup with San Giljan so far and we all hope he adds many more honours to his belt. Ben is also a National Team player. Out of the water Ben works as a letting agent and with regards to other sports Ben is a very good footballer. He also is a Liverpool FC supporter. Ben’s message to the San Giljan supporters is the following, “Thank you for all the support you give us especially during important games. It is as if you are our 8th player in the water. VSG.”
Darren Zammit
Darren Zammit is a strong player who is more and more establishing himself in the senior squad of San Giljan. Born on the 1st January 1999, Darren has started playing waterpolo at 9 years old with M’Scala before moving to San Giljan at 13 years old. He won honors for San Giljan at junior level and formed part of the senior team that won 2 Leagues, 4 Knock-Outs, 3 Presidents’ Cup, 3 Winter Leagues and 2 Enemed Cup in recent years. Darren is also a National Team player. Out of the water, Darren is studying physiotherapy at University, he loves motocross and is an AC Milan supporter. Darren’s message to the San Giljan supporters is, “I wish to thank all those supporters that come to support us for every match as you are our 8th player when winning or losing. You’re surely the best in Malta. VSG.”
Dino Zammit – Vice Captain
Dino Zammit is the son of Mario Zammit who is an ex San Giljan Champion. Born on the 14th December 1994, Dino is the vice-captain of the senior team and has won various honors both at junior and senior level. He started his career at Sirens before moving to San Giljan in 2013. Dino started helping the club winning cups straight away in the U/20s team before becoming an important member of the senior squad that has won 2 Leagues, 4 Knock-Outs, 3 Presidents’ Cup, 3 Winter Leagues and 2 Enemed Cup. Dino has also been part of the National Team for a number of years. Out of the water Dino is currently reading a degree in Business and Sports Management. He is also a football fan, supporting AC Milan and also Liverpool FC. Dino’s message to the San Giljan supporters is the following, “After years out of reach for top honors we are now a top club in Malta, fighting for every honor available. What I love about this club is that rain or shine we have loyal supporters always there for us. We will continue fighting to achieve greater results for this club.VSG”
Gareth Vassallo
Gareth Vassallo is a promising young goalkeeper who was recently integrated within the senior squad. Born on the 2nd August 2003, Gareth has started playing waterpolo at Exiles at 9 years old. He eventually joined San Giljan when he was 13 years old and plays regularly with our youth teams. Out of the water Gareth’s studying is also sports related. He enjoys playing other sports as well and is also a football supporter of Juventus FC. Gareth’s message to the San Giljan supporters is the following, “To play for San Giljan feels incredible. I can promise the fans I will give everything to the club. VSG.”
Jake Bonavia
Jake Bonavia is a very promising young player who is slowly establishing himself as part of the senior team. Born on the 23rd March 2003, Jake has started playing waterpolo at 8 years old. He still plays with our junior teams, significantly contributing in our young teams winning a number of honors. Jake also forms part of the senior squad and is also a regular member of our National Teams at junior level as well. Out of the water, Jake is studying accounts and economics. He also enjoys going abroad especially to support his favourite football team, Juventus FC. Jake’s message to our San Giljan supporters is the following, “Your support is appreciated when the team is getting positive results and also when the team is going through bad days. VSG.”
Jake Tanti
Jake Tanti is the son of well-known ex waterpolo goalkeeper Alex Tanti. He has continued on his father’s footsteps and at his young age he is already one of the best goalkeepers in Malta. Born on the 12th June 1998, Jake started waterpolo at 10 years old with Neptunes. He has played with Ta Xbiex on loan before moving to San Giljan in 2017, winning the Championship as our goalkeeper in his first season at 18 years of age. Jake also won 2 winter leagues, 2 knock outs, 2 Enemed Cup and 2 Presidents Cup. Jake is also part of the National Team Squad. Out of the water, Jake is studying Architecture at University and in his free time he enjoys drawing, music and watching movies. He is also a football supporter of Man United. Jake’s message to the San Giljan supporters is the following, “I wish to take this opportunity to thank all the supporters for making me feel so welcome and part of this family ever since I joined the club and for always being behind the team through the good and bad times. It is truly an amazing feeling to play in front of a packed San Giljan stand. VSG. “
Keith Tanti
Keith Tanti is the brother of our goalkeeper Jake Tanti and is the latest signing for San Giljan with the aim of strengthening our senior team and also our U20 team. Born on the 14th April 2000, Keith started playing waterpolo at 7 years old at Neptunes. Eventually Keith moved to Sliema and also played with Ta Xbiex in 1st Division before moving to San Giljan. Keith won a number of honors at junior level and is now training hard as ever to make it at senior level with a leading team such as ours. Out of the water Keith studies architecture at University and is a football supporter of Chelsea FC. Keith’s message to the San Giljan supporters is the following, “I appreciate that the club has the biggest support on the island and as a new addition to the team I will strive to do the best to help the club with titles. VSG.”
Marco Mannino
Marco Mannino is a promising young player who was born in Italy but has now lived in Malta for a number of years. Born on the 16th October 1999, Marco started playing with San Giljan at 12 years old and has been in our youth teams that have won a number of honors along the years. He is now part of the senior squad and aims to gain more space and experience at senior level. Out of the water, Marco works in construction and in his free time he enjoys anything to do with cars. Marco’s message to the San Giljan supporters is the following, “Glad to be part of this team but especially thankful to have the greatest supporters on the island. VSG.”
Matthew Zammit – Captain
Matthew Zammit also known as ‘Xellugi’ is the captain of our senior team and without any doubt one of the best talents San Giljan has produced in the history of the club. Born on the 1st October 1987, Matthew started waterpolo at the late age of 15 years old when he was already a very promising basketball player at the time. He eventually chose waterpolo and has played his entire career with San Giljan winning 2 Leagues, 4 Knock-Outs, 3 Presidents’ Cup, 3 Winter Leagues and 2 Enemed Cup. Matthew also had two experiences playing abroad, the latest being this year in A1 with Palermo. He has also represented Malta the national team for many years. Out of the water, Matthew enjoys spending time with his family and relaxing at home watching movies. He is also a football supporter of Juventus FC. Matthew’s message to the supporters is the following, “A team is nothing without its supporters and supporters are nothing without a team. Let’s come together as one, pull the same rope and be successful together. Our supporters are surely our 8th player in the pool and you are a great help for the team. After all we are San Giljan and we all have one aim. Winning! #VSG
Matthias Ortoleva
Matthias ‘Ciccio’ Ortoleva is a young promising player of San Giljan who also plays with the National Team at Youth level. Born on the 27th July 2001, Ciccio started playing with San Giljan at 11 years old. He has won honors at youth level with San Giljan and also played as a shared athlete with Ta Xbiex and B’Bugia. Ciccio has also experienced training and playing abroad to improve as a waterpolo player even more. Out of the water Ciccio works in construction in the family business and is a football supporter for Juventus. Ciccio’s message for the San Giljan supporters is the following, “My ultimate waterpolo dream is to play as long as I can with this beautiful club and win as many trophies as I can for San Giljan and for all you people that support us through good and bad times. VSG.”
Paul Fava
Paul Fava is the veteran of the team and our warrior of many battles. Born on the 9th February 1982, Paul started playing waterpolo at the age of 13 with Sliema. Eventually he played for M’Scala for a few years and with Sirens for one year before joining San Giljan in 2008. Paul won a number of honors at junior and senior level before joining our club and won 2 Leagues, 4 Knock-Outs, 3 Presidents’ Cup, 3 Winter Leagues and 2 Enemed Cup with San Giljan in these past years. Out of the water Paul is a project manager and as hobbies he enjoys cooking, gaming and reading. Paul also enjoys history and architecture and as a football supporter his favourite team is Man United. Paul’s message to the San Giljan supporters is, “Thank you for your time and dedication to create such a great atmosphere while we play our beloved game and also during the festa. Apologies for whenever we let you down and sincerely thank you all for making us feel so special. Keep it up. VSG.”