Pippo Psaila, sports director of the Luxol St Andrew’s youth sector, has described the partnership agreement with the Sta Luċija FC nursery as an excellent opportunity for young players from the other side of the island to further their footballing education.
The project, launched last month in the presence of Malta FA president Norman Darmanin Demajo, will see Luxol implement their youth development training methods and policies outside their confines for the benefit of young players not only from Sta Luċija but also from nearby towns and villages.
“For a youth development scheme structured in the manner that Luxol is, we are proud to have this opportunity of sharing our learning/ educational experience with our new strategic partners Sta Luċija.
“They are set to give youth players from the south an occasion not to miss to extend their sporting and personal development through football,” former Malta coach Psaila said.
“The project is set up on the basis of a franchising agreement and hence it is incumbent on the Luxol youth sector to ensure that we transfer in the most holistic manner the experience we offer our players to our new partners – the guarantee is in the fact that we are Luxol.
“Our track record over the past 23 years speaks for itself as, from a very little unit with a total of 45 players in 1993, today we have in excess of 630 in a catchment area where we are surrounded by valid competitors.
“We have established ourselves as an organisation that provides youths with life-long skills and values that will help them in their maturity to adulthood – this is our primary mission, and football acts as a channel to reach that goal.
“All the coaching staff forming part of this franchise are handpicked by Luxol and have been part of our team for a number of years.”
Psaila explained that the young players who choose to join the Luxol youth development programme will be registered with Sta Luċija as the agreement between the two clubs covers the transfer and provision of technical and administrative expertise.
“Luxol is the service provider and Sta Luċija the franchisee – this is not an amalgamation of any sort and each club will live its own auto-nomy,” Psaila explained.
The Malta Youth FA’s response to this initiative was very positive.
“I would like to personally thank Youth FA head Fr Hilary Tagliaferro for his continued support,” Psaila said.
Last week, coaches from Luxol held a three-day roadshow at the Sta Luċija ground. Organisers said attendance was very encouraging.
Applications to join the Luxol youth academy at Sta Luċija are now open.