Residents at the six centres run by the Agency for the Welfare of Asylum Seekers can now enjoy an organised kickabout, following the opening of a new five-a-side football pitch at Marsa Open Centre.

The synthetic pitch was funded through a €41,400 grant handed to AWAS by the International Olympic Committee Emergency Fund. 

As part of the project, residents keen to brush up on their football skills will be able to join weekly training sessions organised by the Malta Football Association.

Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela praised the initiative and spoke of the potential to bring about positive change through sports. 

He noted that AWAS currently cared for 557 individuals coming from 36 different countries, with most hailing from Ethiopia, Eritrea, Libya, Somalia and Sudan.

AWAS has recruited almost 40 new employees over the past three years, the minister said.

Mr Abela thanked the Malta Olympic Committee for helping AWAS obtain funding through the IOC's Emergency Fund, as well as the MFA for providing residents with football training. 

The minister (right) couldn't resist a quick kickabout. Photo: DOI/Jeremy WonnacottThe minister (right) couldn't resist a quick kickabout. Photo: DOI/Jeremy Wonnacott

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.