Norman Darmanin Demajo has confirmed his intention to extend his tenure as Malta FA president but made it clear that, provided he wins the backing of the assembly during the association’s Annual General Meeting on July 30, this will be his last three-year term.

Addressing the Malta FA Council yesterday afternoon, Darmanin Demajo pulled no punches as he voiced his lingering frustration at the laborious decision-making procedures within the MFA but nevertheless reiterated his motivation to implement further initiatives for the benefit of the local game.

“I will be accepting nominations for the post of president… I’m putting myself forward for another three-year term for the period 2016-19,” Darmanin Demajo said.

“I want to thank you for your backing. If I’m elected, this will definitely be my last term of office.

“I believe it’s healthy for the MFA if there is a change at the helm from time to time.

“I don’t think my announcement has come as a surprise because this has been the general feeling for several months.

“At the same time, I encourage anyone who is interested in serving as MFA president to contest. I don’t like being the only challenger, so don’t be afraid, come forward. There will be no hard feelings from my side.

“If there are no other candidates, I will ask for a vote of confidence during the AGM.”

Darmanin Demajo said the responsibilities and duties associated with the post meant that the decision to stand for re-election was not taken lightly.

“It was not an easy decision because the position carries great responsibility,” Darmanin Demajo said.

“Mentally, I have to undertake a commitment for another term of office and this entails energy and time.

“Another important factor was my personal motivation to propose myself for another term

“I need to have new ideas, new projects to carry on because I’m not the type who likes to sit comfortably with arms crossed.

“I also require a group of competent people around me to help and give me guidance and I must say that, over the past three years, I was surrounded by excellent officials and MFA employees.

“I’ve also asked myself if I still have the faith of the people who elected me.

“My overriding feeling is that I still enjoy your trust and that my integrity has never been called into question, regardless of what happened recently when my name cropped up in the Panama Papers issue.

“I’m convinced that the majority of those who vote have faith in me.”

Darmanin Demajo, who has been at the helm of the MFA since 2010, signalled his determination to revise the association’s decision-making mechanisms.

“It’s not easy to manage the MFA,” he said. “One thing that really frustrates me is that we have to operate according to a set of regulations that are totally out of date.

“There’s an overlap between the Executive Committee and the Council. I have the utmost respect for the Council but you can’t lead an organisation in this manner.

“The reform process is laborious and time-consuming and these are things that annoy me.

“The association’s statute decrees that the major decisions taken by the Exco need to be rubberstamped by the Council.

“We need to look at the statute to try and ameliorate matters, especially for those who will lead the association after me.”

The MFA head also expressed his dissatisfaction at the response of the Premier League Standing Committee (PLSC) to his proposed business model.

“We devised a business model to help the Premier League clubs but ended up with an inquiry into the MFA procedures,” Darmanin Demajo said in reference to the letter sent by the PLSC alleging financial irregularities related to construction and renovation works at the Victor Tedesco Stadium and the Mosta ground.

“I try to move forward but instead of receiving encouragement, I encounter obstacles.

“Instead of pressing ahead with the business model, we now find ourselves awaiting the report of the Board of Internal Auditors.

“The scheme (season tickets) was intended to help clubs generate more income, especially in the Premier League where it is needed most.”

Positive dope tests

Meanwhile, it was announced that a player who turned out for Naxxar Lions last season has been suspended provisionally for a doping offence.

The test was carried out by the National Anti-Doping Organisation (NADO) after the Premier League game between Naxxar Lions and Birkirkara on March 20.

A player of second division club Mellieħa has been banned for two years after testing positive for doping while another who plays for Sta Luċija has been suspended provisionally, also for a doping-related offence.

A Valletta youth player was given a reprimand after the MFA medical committee found that his positive dope test resulted from a substance contained in over-the-counter medication he took to treat a minor illness.

Goalkeeper James Mercieca, who was on the books of Vittoriosa Stars, was handed a six-month ban after being found guilty of placing a bet on a domestic game in violation of MFA regulations.

The time Mercieca served while he was provisionally suspended by the MFA is to be deducted from the six-month ban. Mercieca has appealed.

Malta FA general secretary Bjorn Vassallo said that the association’s prosecuting officer has recommended that Italian Felice Bellini, who is being investigated in connection with the Dirty Soccer scandal, be declared a persona non-grata in Maltese football and that local clubs be advised accordingly.

In 2014, Bellini was the technical director of Division One club Vittoriosa Stars.

“These people certainly don’t help our football but they rather tarnish our game with despicable acts,” Vassallo said.

Also yesterday, Vassallo showed a video about the new hybrid grass pitch which is being installed at the National Stadium this summer. The project has been entrusted to Irish company SISGRASS Technology.

Attached files

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.