Luca Corona, a qualified youth football coach who works for the Turin-based Juventus Soccer School Academy, was in Malta last week to conduct a number of training sessions for the young members of the local branch of the Juve Soccer School (JSS).

Corona had the task of assessing the Maltese players, 55 in all, as well as the local coaches engaged with JSS Malta. The training sessions were held at Pembroke Athleta’s ground over a two-day period.

The Italian coach is expected to submit a report about the talent, skill and dedication of the students and coaches of the JSS Malta branch to the technical centre of the Juventus Soccer School in Turin.

On Friday morning, Corona paid a visit to the St Paul’s Bay Primary School where he was welcomed by Lina Deguara, the headmistress of the school.

Corona put on a 60-minute demonstration session, using the school pupils as players. Charles Borg, head coach of the JSS Malta branch who has just obtained the Tecnico II badge from the Juventus University, accompanied Corona during his visit to the St Paul’s Bay Primary School

The Juventus Soccer School Malta was relaunched recently thanks to the efforts of Events Services, a local company that focuses on sports, media and entertainment.

Sandro Micallef, a director of Events Services, said the company was honoured to host Corona during his visit to JSS Malta. He added that, under the contract signed between his company and the Juventus Soccer School, represented by Nike International of Turin, coaches from the JSS in Italy must make three visits to the local school every season.

After the successful visit to Turin of the JSS Malta U-13 players, a similar trip is being planned for the youngsters in the Under-11 age-group in March.

More information about JSS Malta may be obtained by email to eventsservices@gmail.com or by calling Charles Borg on 9951-6062.