At Melita AFC they do it for the love of the game and for the game's sake.
They use the club and the training grounds as a means of furthering the youngsters' education through sport in team spirit, sportsmanship, discipline... qualities that will serve the young footballers well in life not only as representatives of this famous club on the field of play, but also as true citizens who will make their country proud.
During the current season, Melita will be celebrating three most significant anniversaries in their chequered history.
This will be the 70th year of Melita's foundation by the legendary 'Sur Gann' Bencini in his 'kantina' in Rudolph Street, Sliema.
Ronnie Tabone, the ex-Floriana Ajax goalkeeper who moved to Melita first as a player in 1952 and later as a committee member (rising to the rank of vice-president) and council member of the Malta FA, will be marking his 50th year at Melita. Meanwhile, Anton Naudi, the charismatic president, who also first joined Melita as a player, will notch up 40 years association with the club - the last 20 of which as president.
Three great achievements of the highest order in the football world where money and professionalism are the order of the day!
The Arsenal-clad Melita AFC, dubbed as the Arsenal of Amateurism in Malta, played their first friendly matches during season 1932-33 mostly against Services sides. However, the official foundation date is set as April 28, 1933, the first annual general meeting.
Few know that the very existence of Melita was threatened to the core, when at the time, the Malta FA decreed that each town or village should be represented by one club.
Sliema Athletic were already winning recognition for Sliema, but in a swift intervention, Bencini, a man of deep foresight, transferred the club premises to some rooms in Marquis Scicluna Street in St Julian's where the club still stands to this very day, thus earning the right to represent St Julian's with the Malta FA.
Many waters have run under the bridge since those far-off days, recording a history of fluctuating fortunes, punctuated with occasions for joy as well as disappointments.
The climax was reached in season 1938-39 when a well-knit team of refined amateurs took on their more fancied neighbours from Sliema to land the prestigious FA Trophy with an emphatic 4-0 win.
It would be dangerous of me to name outstanding players in that celebrated squad under the tutorship of another legendary name in the annals of local football - the Austrian Leo Drucker. But I stand on steady ground in picking Victor Vassallo, Joe Griffiths, and the brothers Karl and George Bencini, sons of the founder.
Throughout these years, Melita produced a steady stream of players who moved on to other clubs, some of whom made it to the very top, distinguishing themselves by wearing the national jersey.
It has been an unrelenting battle against the ever high professional waves and the lure of money but Melita have kept the amateur flag flying proudly through thick and thin against heavy odds, which at times seemed insuperable.
Turning to the ever-smiling and forthcoming Anton Naudi, I ask the obvious: So how does the club survive financially?
"The club, as has always been its tradition, only provides the players with the top, shorts and socks.
"All other expenses, including football shoes, transport for training sessions, and other financial needs are provided by the players themselves, their families, benefactors and members of the committee. One other source of revenue are the bill boards round our grounds.
"The real challenge arrived when football moved to Ta' Qali in 1981. This needed an overall re-organisation of method and approach at the club. Despite all adversities we ploughed on, never losing sight of our firm belief in playing the game first and foremost. There is no place in our club for money grabbers!"
Through a recent government resolution in parliament, Melita now have their own pitch at Pembroke with all the amenities and facilities required in modern day football, including, among others, a groundsman and a physiotherapist.
"We would have loved to have our ground in St Julian's itself as it has always been our ambition to attract supporters from the town we represent (and who are always welcome). But the town is thickly built up, so we had to move out for space."
Melita played full flight football in the pre-war and immediate post World War Two years. In recent years, they have never made it to the Premier division, although it must be said that they once took part in the first division in season 1963/64 - today's equivalent to the Premier.
Naudi immediately adds: "I formed part of that squad with pride and honour." However, during three recent fruitful years in the second division, Melita won another signal honour when in season 1999-2000 they lifted the Division II/III Knock Out competition cup - arguably a triumph matched only by the winning of the FA Trophy.
President Naudi's fervour flows out like the proverbial stream. He is adamant that, first and foremost, Melita should never rescind its amateur status. "Our future lies, without doubt, in our bubbling nursery and my dream is to field an all-Melita team graduated from our own football cradle. Under the present chairmanship of Robert Balani, ably aided by Peter Galea and his hard-working committee, our nursery started off in 1989 with just 50 boys.
"We now have 320, all trained under qualified, unsalaried coaches whose dedication and determination to succeed are second to none. Concurrently, they have also managed to create a veritable 'family' atmosphere as they work according to The Official Handbook for coaches of Melita AFC Youth Nursery," he said.
Another ambitious project in the pipeline is the embellishment of Melita's football ground area to include an extension to the building to house a committee/trophy room, a gym and a bar, decent parking facilities and a modern five-a-side turfed pitch surrounded by landscaping.
Naudi adds without hesitation: "All the necessary permits are almost in hand, but financial aid and support are prime requisites to turn this dream into reality. Finalising this project will further strengthen the opportunities to lure our youngsters from all over the island away from the continual threats of evil bad habits."
I leave the amiable Anton Naudi with a very tricky poser. "If you had to pick an all-time Melita team, how would that formation be?"
"This is truly a tough one because the list of players who made both Melita and Malta proud, is endless. However, never shirking a challenge, here is a try: Alfred Mizzi, John Bugeja, Mark Galea, Lawrence Borg, John Delia (capt), Michael Galea, Victor Vassallo, George Bencini, John Bonett, Peter Galea, Maurice Decesare. Coach: Leo Drucker (Pippo Psaila)."