Gozo FA to host tournament in 2010

The Gozo FA have won the right to host the VIVA World Cup 2010. Their bid was chosen at a general meeting of the New Federation Board (NFB) which was established in 2003. Other regions that expressed an interest in organising the event were Italy's Padania and Kurdistan.

The VIVA World Cup is an international tournament organised by the NFB, an umbrella association for nations not affiliated with FIFA. The plan is to hold the World Cup for regions every two years.

GFA president Alvin Grech said they are expecting around eight teams to take part in the main tournament and four others for a women's competition.

As regards the players in the Gozo representative team, the GFA head told reporters this week that those who are eligible to play as 'a Gozitan' in local competitions can form part of the team.

The GFA will be setting up an organising committee to oversee the necessary contacts and preparation work. GFA secretary Joe Bajada said the presentation bid was prepared together with colleagues Philip Cassar and Mark Cini. The contest with Padania was very challenging, he said, as their delegation was made up of around 20 delegates. The chairperson was Serie A referee Mario Mazzoleni.

In the end, the New Federation Board unanimously decided that a special edition be played in Padania next year while the 2010 World Cup was assigned to Gozo.

The 2008 VIVA World Cup was played in Gallivare, Sweden, last July. The teams that took part were Samiland (hosts), Kurdistan, Padania, Provence and Syriacs. Padania won the tournament after beating the Syriacs team 2-0 in the final.