Clubs want to be treated with more respect - Darmanin Demajo

Norman Darmanin Demajo has pledged to treat local clubs with more respect if his bid to win the Malta FA presidency proves successful.

Better facilities and increased financial assistance are key points in the electoral manifesto of Darmanin Demajo who is sanguine about his chances of unseating Joe Mifsud who has been at the helm of the Malta FA for the past 15 years.

Darmanin Demajo, the vice-president of Luxol St Andrews FC, yesterday summoned the media for his final press briefing before today's much-anticipated vote.

"I've enjoyed the experience of meeting all the clubs in Malta over the past five months," Darmanin Demajo said. "I take this opportunity to thank them for their hospitality.

"Clubs have varying needs and priorities but the common thread among them is that they want to be treated with more respect."

"My programme lays emphasis on the need to give direct financial assistance to clubs," he added.

"I want to offer better incentives by revising the MFA's policy on gate income and by removing other charges for stadium use etc.

"Clubs need more income to develop their infrastructure and I'm determined to give them the means to do so.

"There are 36 clubs who have a legal title on their premises. My pledge is to help them attain what we are calling a basic starting package to improve their facilities... an artificial turf pitch and floodlights.

"According to my estimates, a capital investment of Lm3 million would be required immediately to enable clubs to boost their facilities.

"Based on the Malta FA's accounts for the past six years, this target is attainable. My wish is that all the nurseries will have better pitches on which to train and play in the next two years."

Among the multitude of proposals in his manifesto, Darmanin Demajo promises to transform the Ta' Qali training grounds and other facilities into a more 'user-friendly' complex and to eradicate the concept that all services provided by the Malta FA come at a cost.

Darmanin Demajo also sees the need to give more powers to the MFA's Board of Internal Auditors, which will be composed of independent and qualified persons, and to appoint a Football Ombudsman to deal with queries on MFA procedures and other litigations.

The former Malta FA treasurer also revealed that the majority of the clubs he met during his election campaign are in favour of a revision of the format and composition of the national leagues.

"At this stage, I can only say that, if I'm elected president of the association, this matter will be dealt with immediately if the clubs wish so," Darmanin Demajo said.

A potential overhaul of the football leagues could see the removal of the current two-tier format of the Premier League in favour of a two-round campaign and an increase in the number of teams in the top and first division from 10 to 12.

At the start of yesterday's news conference, Darmanin Demajo opened his speech by deploring the proliferation of what he described as "unsavoury" pictures of Dr Mifsud.

"I have been notified that unsavoury pictures (photo-montages) of Dr Mifsud have been mailed to the clubs in recent days," Darmanin Demajo said.

"I categorically condemn this senseless act. I haven't seen these pictures but if I receive any information on who might be behind this, I will surely pass it on to the authorities."

Despite being on the receiving end of scathing criticism from his fellow candidate over the past two months, Darmanin Demajo kept his emotions firmly in check yesterday.

"I've been attacked personally. The same goes for those persons who, in some way or another, have co-operated with me during my campaign," Darmanin Demajo said.

Integrity intact

"I will only say that leadership is not about attacking people because they are competitors. As far as I'm concerned, I have always stuck with my principles and nothing will change me.

"Some have described me as a dreamer and even attempted to raise doubts about my character but I can assure everyone that my integrity is intact."

Faced with a question about which of the eight candidates for the three vice-president roles were part of his ensemble, Darmanin Demajo said: "When I officially announced my candidacy for president, I also said that I asked Pippo Psaila (MOC Director of Sport) if he would be interested in contesting the election for vice-president.

"Psaila was willing to work with me if I became president. Bjorn Vassallo has also played an active role in my campaign. He is also vying for one of the three MFA vice-president roles because he feels he can contribute to local football.

"I presume that once the result of the election for president is out, some of the nominees for the vice-president roles will reconsider their position."

The race for the MFA presidency has inevitably put the strained relationship between Dr Mifsud and Darmanin Demajo back into focus.

For years, many were those who opined that Dr Mifsud and Darmanin Demajo should make an effort to iron out their differences and work together for the benefit of Maltese football. There was no repulsive reaction from Darmanin Demajo when this subject was brought up for discussion.

"For the good of Maltese football, I would not hesitate to make the first step (to improve the relationship with Dr Mifsud) as long as there is a mutual, honest desire by all parties to make things work," Darmanin Demajo said.

As was the case three years ago when the then MFA presidential candidate Joe Caruana Curran did not attend the MFA's annual general meeting, Darmanin Demajo confirmed yesterday that he will not be at the Centenary Hall for the initial part of the AGM.

Only council members and club delegates are eligible to take part in the AGM. Should he win the election, Darmanin Demajo will head for the Centenary Hall to preside over the remainder of the AGM.