Ability, dedication and patience

Forty-eight years ago, when I was just 14, I was encouraged by a school friend, Alfred Mizzi, to join the Melita FC minor football team.

Alfred and I were also colleagues in the St Gregory's Catholic Action football team taking part in the Sliema District Under-16 League. I signed for Melita for the 1956-57 season and we started training in September. We were considered lucky to have the availability of the pitch at Stella Maris College in Gzira for that month.

From October onwards training consisted of running in the roads and perhaps some physical exercises. We used to develop our football skills by playing as many matches as possible, be they friendly or competitive.

Melita was in the Second Division at the time (there was no Premier Division then) and Alfred and I subsequently moved to First Division clubs. Alfred joined Floriana and I signed for Sliema Wanderers. We later both played together for Malta. Alfred and I now cross paths on the Sliema seafront every morning at about 6.30 a.m while enjoying our daily exercise.

Many other First Division and Malta international players started their career with Melita. This amateur club was renowned as the 'nursery' of Maltese football always instilling in its players a sense of honesty and true sportsmanship.

About ten years ago the hardworking committee of the club, with the help of some parents and dedicated coaches, set up a real football nursery for youngsters. I was invited to attend the inauguration of two new artificial turf pitches to add to Melita's training facilities which cannot, by any stretch of the imagination, be compared to the modest amenities available to us 48 years ago.

It was with a certain degree of nostalgia that I attended this most enjoyable function. The occasion brought back fond memories of the late Is-Sur Gann Bencini, Victor Vassallo and Austin Zammit, respectively past president, vice-president and treasurer of the club.

It was a pleasure to meet Ronnie Tabone who served Melita as hon. secretary for as long as I can remember and who dedicated most of his life to Melita. I could see that his enthusiasm for the club is still alive and he is no less active today than he has ever been.

I was indeed impressed, not only by the available amenities, but also by the organisation and apparent discipline among the large number of young boys attending the nursery. It takes a lot of ability, dedication and patience to offer this facility to some 370 boys whose ages range between four and 18.

I must compliment my friend Anton Naudi, president of Melita FC, who kindly invited me to this memorable occasion. Anton is another stalwart of Melita, having formed part of the club for the past 42 years, initially giving his services as a very fast right-winger and latterly as the club president.

Anton has worked very hard to enable the club to maintain its amateur status in accordance with the wishes of Ganni Bencini. Neither players nor coaches receive any remuneration. This achievement is definitely no mean feat in the present environment.

Football training, and all kinds of sport for that matter, keeps youth away from drugs and crime and instils a certain degree of discipline and self-control in a healthy and enjoyable atmosphere. Therefore the emergence of so many nurseries augurs well for the future of Maltese football in particular and Maltese society in general. Never mind losing 0-7 to the runners-up of the World Cup on their home ground. We should not expect much more.

Congratulations to the committee members and players of Melita FC for winning promotion to the second division.