MCF's financial problems and its youth sector

Kenneth Pullicino, of St Paul's Bay, writes:

Basing myself on your report of the Malta Cycling Federation's 2006 Annual General Meeting entitled "Federation president Zammit concerned with spiralling costs" (October 29), the president's message thereat was said to be twofold: on the one hand, he conveyed his concern at the federation's dire financial situation and on the other, he reiterated the MCF's commitment towards the development of its youth sector.

Admittedly, I am neither a cyclist and nor am I involved in the sport in any other capacity. Nevertheless, I do follow the competitive and financial performance of Maltese sports in general and it is evident that the standard of Maltese sport and its meagre results in international competition are in part a reflection of the limited resources which we as a nation invest in sports.

The statements made by the MCF president would in this sense appear to be contradictory in that it is useless to promise commitment towards the development of the youth sector unless the MCF is financially sound and could afford to invest in its sport. Rather, it is more likely that an organisation in financial straits would be battling for existence.

The fact that it is the cycling body making such statements is doubly worrying. Maltese cycling managed its first international success by a home-grown athlete just over a year ago, at the 2005 GSSE and yet, it would seem that that teenager's success was not exploited by the MCF in promoting the sport and in strengthening its coffers in the process.

More so, although the athlete concerned was reported in the media some months ago to have joined a Belgian club, his name was not featured in the Maltese line-up at the Commonwealth Games held in Australia earlier on this year.

In other words, the MCF does its utmost to lure foreign cyclists with a Maltese connection such as Dave Millar to join its national team at the GSSE but then fails to field an award-winning, overseas-based Maltese cyclist at the Commonwealth Games.

Following the president's address, should I understand that apart from financial troubles, the MCF has athlete management problems, too? How does one reconcile the federation's commitment towards its youth members with such decisions?