Malta may have garnered only one point from their eight Euro 2012 qualifiers so far but Bjorn Vassallo, the Malta FA CEO, is convinced that the national team has come a long way in recent years.

“Our vision vis-a-vis the national team is clear,” Vassallo replied when asked during a news conference yesterday whether the MFA was satisfied with Malta’s results in Euro 2012 qualifying Group F.

“The country’s best elements are selected to be part of the national squad and it’s the responsibility of the national coach and technical director to ensure that the team comes into the match in the best condition and that we don’t take to the field just to honour the fixture.

“I believe that, in the last few years, the team has made progress. We have been scoring on a consistent basis and the team has shown good tactical discipline.

“We have lost games but the margin of defeat has diminished considerably. There hasn’t been one game in this qualifying group when our team suffered a humiliation.

“When I say that the national team has improved, I’m not limiting myself to the last year or so because the progress under Dusan Fitzel was crystal clear and the same applies to John Buttigieg.”

Vassallo was addressing a news conference ahead of Malta’s concluding Euro 2012 qualifiers, away to Latvia on Friday and at home to Israel next Tuesday.

“A few months ago, we announced the revision of the national teams,” Vassallo added.

“One of our priorities is to encourage the Maltese population to show more passion when our national teams play at all levels.

“The U-21 team will play their next two home qualifiers (against Ukraine and Lithuania) in Gozo. We believe that the residents of Gozo deserve the chance to see international games.

“In the last few months, we have embarked on a campaign aimed at bringing the national team players closer to the public. The national team’s matches are now being shown on the national channel.

“We have done this not to look good in the eyes of the public at a time when the MFA revised the training allowance scheme for the national team players. As we stressed then, our aim was not to save money (by removing training allowance in favour of increased performance-related bonuses) but to further motivate the players.

“As MFA, we are obliged to provide the best services to allow our players to raise their standards and I believe they are realising that this is being achieved.”

Last week, the Malta squad held an open training session at the National Stadium.

“A good number of children attended the open training session,” Vassallo said.

“Our concept is to build and invest in youngsters. We are not only targeting those fans who follow the national team, like the South End Core, but those who think that our football is not enticing.

“We are trying to show that, notwithstanding our limitations, our football can also offer entertainment and satisfaction, especially at international level.

“The draw for the 2014 World Cup qualifiers was good for Malta and the expectations will surely rise because we will be playing against some leading footballing nations (Italy, Denmark, Czech Republic, Bulgaria and Armenia).

“But, we want the fans to come and appreciate our national team. People often look at the negatives but we’re doing our best to raise the image of our football.”

Vassallo announced that the Malta FA have engaged the services of Italian youth coach Sergio Soldano, who has had spells with Serie A clubs Inter and Parma.

Soldano will be coming over on a regular basis to oversee the development of a group of promising youngsters.

“We’re working on a three-year programme,” he said. “Soldano will be working with the MFA coaches and Carmel Busuttil, who is in charge of the youth sector. The aim is to educate these children in all aspects of the game.

“Once a week, the selected candidates will come to Ta’ Qali to do their homework, eat together and have lessons in key subjects like nutrition, sports physiology, etc.”

Ticketing system

Vassallo also spoke about the MFA’s new ticketing system, insisting that it is now up and running.

“We had a few hitches for the Croatia game as we were unable to issue children tickets but that problem has been solved,” he said.

He added that those parents who had to pay the price of an adult ticket for their children have either been refunded or offered tickets for the Israel qualifier.

Norman Saliba, the MFA’s head of marketing, looked at the organisational aspect of the forthcoming home internationals.

The sale of tickets for the Israel game, Malta’s final Euro 2012 qualifier, began yesterday. Tickets have been priced as follows: West Stand €15, Millennium Stand €6, South Stand €3, children €1.

Tickets for the U-21 qualifiers – vs Ukraine on Friday and Lithuania on Oct. 11 ­– at the Gozo Stadium will be sold at the gates for €4 (ticket is valid for both games).

On-going road works in the vicinity of the Gozo Stadium had raised question marks over the feasibility of staging two U-21 international games there but Vassallo said the Ministry of Gozo and Transport Malta have reassured the MFA that, as of today, part of the main road will be ready for use.

Still, only a limited number of cars will have access to this road but those attending the match will be directed to the nearby Xewkija car park.