Paolo Di Fonzo has stepped down as coach of the men’s national team.

Di Fonzo, who succeeded Italian compatriot Bruno DiPietrantonio in September 2011, said in a short statement on his facebook page that he left the team due to personal reasons.

“Unfortunately, I am forced to leave my post as Malta national coach strictly due to personal reasons that have nothing to do with basketball,” Di Fonzo wrote.

“I would like to thank association president Paul Sultana and general secretary Joseph Muscat for giving me the opportunity of coaching the team during the last few years.

“I really enjoyed working with the players and competing in two European Championships where we returned home with a bronze and a silver medal.”

Contacted by Times of Malta, Malta Basketball Association president Paul Sultana thanked Di Fonzo for his sterling contribution and revealed that a deal has been reached with new coach Andrea Paccarie.

“We will always be grateful to Paolo Di Fonzo for his contribution towards the game in Malta,” Sultana said.

“Under his charge our national team achieved its best ever result in the European Championships when finishing runners-up in Gibraltar two years ago.

“Andrea Paccarie was recommended to us by Di Fonzo and now we look forward to work closely with him as we did with other coaches before him.”

During his stay in Malta, former Virtus Roma coach Di Fonzo was also responsible for drawing up a coaching framework for the coaches in charge of the junior national teams.

Paccarie is expected to start his work next month.

“We had contract talks with Andrea Paccarie on Monday. He wanted to coach our team and there were very little difficulties before we reached agreement,” Sultana said.

“Andrea will be here next month and starts preparing the team for the upcoming European Championships for Small States which will be played in summer.”

Moldova will host the next European Championship for men between June 26 and July 3.

Malta were drawn in Group A along with Ireland, San Marino and Gibraltar.

Besides his assignment with the men’s national team players, Paccarie will also be involved in the youth sector at the Maltese basketball association together with juniors coach Kristen Baldacchino.

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