Refs Academy lures 29 candidates

The Malta FA’s drive to entice more youngsters to take up refereeing is gaining fresh impetus as 29 youngsters, aged 14 to 17, have applied to join the association’s Referees Academy.

“The word academy means investment and today we are here to announce this new investment by the MFA,” Bjorn Vassallo, the MFA CEO, said at the launch of the Referees Academy which was also attended by some of the young candidates and their parents.

Vassallo said the Referees Academy represents another positive step by the Malta FA, one that follows a string of reforms at all levels of the local game in the last 16 months.

“We’re sowing the first seeds to produce more referees from a tender age,” Vassallo said. “The aim of this academy is to cultivate talent and encourage aspiring referees to embark on a rewarding career.”

While praising the Maltese match officials for their efforts, Vassallo bemoaned the criticism of referees.

“I accept all criticism as long as it’s constructive,” Vassallo said. “But, the criticism often centres on particular episodes during a match and that’s unfair. Those who criticise our match officials fail to see the broader picture.

“The refs’ department is one of the most active within the MFA.”

Vassallo defended the MFA’s policy to appoint young referees to officiate top-level games this season.

“We knew that we were taking some risks by introducing young referees in certain top-level matches but we are always striving to make progress,” Vassallo said.

“We firmly believe in giving a chance to young referees who have served their apprenticeship in the lower divisions of our game.”

The creation of the Refs’ Academy, the first session of which will be held on the weekend of January 6-8 at the Diplomat Hotel, is very close to the heart of Adrian Casha, the MFA’s director of refereeing.

“Six months ago we initiated a reform to take Maltese refereeing forward,” a beaming Casha said.

“Only six months later, we are witnessing the birth of this academy. The objective is to increase the number and quality of Maltese referees in the coming years.”

Casha said the demand for referees has increased significantly in recent seasons. In November alone, the MFA had to appoint officials for a total of 359 games.

“We hope to have at least 20 new referees next season,” Casha said. “My target is that, in the next five-and-a-half years, we will double the number of Maltese referees.”

Alex Arena, deputy chairman of the refs’ talent and monitoring programme, said that, besides lectures, candidates will be taken to watch matches, including the top-of-the-table clash between Valletta and Hibs, during the first clinic.

Arena expressed his disap-pointment that only 12 out of 70 schools showed an interest in taking part in this initiative.

Five of the 29 applicants are females.