An initiative launched by the Malta Tourism Authority and German firm SLFC produced instant dividends as this week it was confirmed that 16 foreign football teams will be visiting the islands in winter for training camps.

Among the clubs that will be flying their squads to the Medi-terranean between January and March and conduct their training here will be Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven along with other renowned teams from eastern Europe including Legia Warsaw (Poland), BATE Borisov (Bela-rus) and Czech Republic champions Viktoria Plzen.

PSV Eindhoven are through to the UEFA Champions League round of 16 for the first time in nine years after finishing second behind Wolfsburg in Group B but ahead of the more-quoted Manchester United.

PSV, coached by former Netherlands great Phillip Cocu, were drawn to play against Spain’s Atletico Madrid between February and March with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.

During their stay here, PSV will be playing a friendly match against Maltese champions Hibernians on January 5. The venue will be the Hibernians Stadium in Corradino.

Other warm-up matches involving foreign and local teams were not ruled out by the organisers.

SLFC specialises mainly in deals between clubs and other entities to organise training camps. They operate here through the Malta Football Camps Ltd.

In a media conference earlier this week, officials from the MTA and Parliamentary Secretary for Sport Chris Agius explained that this year they persisted with their stance to promote Malta as an ideal destination for winter training camps.

Last year alone, 14,000 travelled to Malta to participate in sports-related events including the high-profile Middle Sea Race, the Mdina Grand Prix and Malta Marathon, among others.

Meanwhile, it was also confirmed that former Inter and Argentina captain Javier Zanetti will be leading another training camp for junior players on our shores between February 13 and 15