Athleta are on the verge of starting a new season with a special meaning as in 2012 they will be celebrating 50 years since the club was established in Sliema.
Athleta won numerous titles since coming to life but this week it emerged that the club that had played a key role in the setting up of the Malta Basketball Association way back in 1964, are finding it hard to own suitable premises where to cater for their needs and conduct operations.
During a pre-season meeting with the press, Athleta president Marcel Pisani went back to the formative years of the club and the times when the committee met at Il-Kantina, provided by Mr Gasan, before moving to the Stella Maris Parish Centre from where they developed into a multi-sport organi-sation.
In the late 1980s, the club decided to move elsewhere but struggled to find adequate headquarters until the base at Pembroke was unearthed and Athleta Pembroke was born with five main sport disciplines – football, basketball, ath-letics, volleyball and hockey.
Unfortunately, due to some internal differences, the basketball team had to split and seek pastures new. Various efforts were made to iron out differences but so far these attempts have proved futile, Pisani said.
Meanwhile, discussions are also being conducted with Sliema Wanderers for Athleta’s basketball team to settle in their own ‘home’.
Athleta’s structure remains strong at all levels, however, and the club boast a very reliable nursery set-up which from time to time feeds the senior teams with home-grown talent.
“After winning four competitions from a possible six last season, Athleta are looking forward to another successful campaign although we are fully aware that repeating the same feat will prove really difficult,” Pisani said.
Last season, Athleta lost Silvio Cassar who decided to retire and the club filled his gap by signing Schembri brothers Dirk and Steve.
This time, Athleta are set to be without Etienne Bezzina due to work commitments so they brought in the promising David Bugeja.
“David will not only help the team but will also lower the average age of the squad. We have also recruited Hungarian Andreas Fekete who will add more options to the coach,” Pisani said.
Meanwhile, Athleta have just returned from a training camp in Cyprus where Joe Galea’s men also figured in two friendlies against local opposition.
“The committee’s work is never complete but we have endeavoured with all our possibilities to present a strengthened team that will keep challenging for the honours. Now it is up to them to play their part in keeping the club’s name flying high,” Pisani added.
A to Z Electronics will again be Athleta’s sponsors this season and in summer NIDA joined the list of other partners for the champions that already include Robert Arrigo, Dragonara Casino Lounge and Bistro and Gillette.