Two English academy coaches, Harry Watling and James J. Mullane were the guest lecturers for the Pembroke Athleta Youth Nursery annual coaches’ seminar.

Watling and Mullane provided an insight into the training programme run by their academy, called the APD (Advance Player Development) which prepares children at the stage between grassroots and academy level.

Youth FA chairman Fr Hilary Tagliaferro spoke about the introduction of the children’s passport while nutritionist Claire Spiteri Staines highlighted the importance of a proper diet for all children with special emphasis on those who practise sports regularly.

Malta FA vice-president Ludovico Micallef and Pierre Brincat , the coach of the women’s national team, were also present for the seminar.

During their stay in Malta, Watling and Mullane also conducted two instructional meetings for coaches and a training session for the Pembroke Nursery’s academy groups. The two English coaches, who watched a league game of Pembroke’s senior team, currently top of Division Two, were impressed with the club’s modern facilities and organisation.

A reception for the participants, lecturers and their families was held at the Melting Pot, the newly-opened restaurant at the club’s ground.

In a statement, the Pembroke Nursery committee thanked Winston Zahra Jnr, of The Radisson Group, for sponsoring the foreign guests’ stay.