Tagliaferro’s backing boosts Balzan’s aspirations

The unstinting backing of their major sponsor, Sydney-based fund manager Investors Mutual Limited, has been crucial for Balzan Youths to strengthen their squad this month with the signings of Martin Deanov and Anthony Eviparker.

In a statement, George Borg, the Balzan Youths president, paid tribute to Anton Tagliaferro, the former Balzan player who owns Investors Mutual, for his continued support of the Premier League team whose are sixth in the table and very much in contention for a Championship Pool place.

“Words are not enough to express our gratitude to Anton Tagliaferro for the vital assistance he’s giving to Balzan Youths,” Borg said.

For his part, Tagliaferro said he was willing to help Balzan become an established side in Malta’s top league.

“I’m very happy to continue supporting Balzan and very proud of the way the club is performing in its first season back in the Premier League,” Tagliaferro said. “I’m very keen for Balzan to establish a strong foothold in the top division of Maltese football.”

Tagliaferro is also giving his input to boost Balzan’s youth sector. “I’d also like to see the Balzan nursery establishing itself as one of the best in Malta,” he said. “In 2011, we were able to bring AC Milan youth coach Elio Garavaglia to train our young players at our new facilities.

“I’m currently working to have more Milan coaches visit Balzan to assist our youth head coach Silvan Ciscaldi who is doing an excellent job at the nursery.

“Silvan was a guest coach of the Milan Academy in Sydney last year, working alongside former Milan player Andrea Icardi. The trip really helped Silvan in his development into a professional youth coach.

“I am keen for Silvan to visit us again as well as to be a guest of Milan in Italy in 2012.

“One of the club’s priorities for the next 12 months is to attract the best young players to our nursery.

“It was great to see that four Balzan players have been selected to the Malta U-19 squad.”

Francesco Zanoncelli, another member of Milan’s youth coaching staff, is currently doing a training clinic at the Balzan Youths nursery.