The Malta FA yesterday signed a sponsorship deal with FXDD which will see the international online foreign exchange trading provider sponsor the national teams for the next two years.
Speaking at the Grand Hotel Excelsior, MFA president Norman Darmanin Demajo could not hide his delight at a successful conclusion of talks with FXDD which will become the first sponsors of the national team in almost 10 years.
“Negotiations with FXDD were straightforward,” the MFA chief said.
“Things started rolling a few months back when during a conversation we had with managing director James Green the issue of a major sponsor for the national team cropped up.
“He immediately sounded his interest and after a few meetings an agreement was already in place and we are pleased that this deal has now gone through.”
The FXDD deal will cover all national team selections and Darmanin Demajo also said that funds generated from the agreement will be dedicated to a series of initiatives being undertaken by the MFA, also currently in the process of selecting a new coach for the senior team.
“Through this new package we will now be in a position to organise charter flights for away matches,” Darmanin Demajo said.
“Before, we did not have the financial strength to have such commodity with the result that our teams had to travel for long hours to reach destinations.
“Also, part of the money generated from the FXDD agreement will also be used to boost our youth project where young players are training pro-fessionally under Italian coach Sergio Soldano.”
FXDD enjoys a high-profile in the world sports arena. Last year, they were the official partners of Formula 1 champions Red Bull Racing Team.
James Green told reporters yesterday that the agreement with the Malta FA formed part of the Forex company’s strategy to assist local sport.
“The Maltese have shown great hospitality since we’ve been here so this sponsorship is our way of giving something back to the people of this country,” Green said.
“We are delighted to have chosen Malta as our European base as this country and its people have been very helpful with us. I am hopeful that this agreement with the Malta FA will be the start of a long association between the two parties.”
Discreet reporting
The MFA president yesterday asked the media to be discreet and avoid speculation in the case regarding the current match-fixing probe over the Euro 2008 qualifier Norway-Malta which was played in Oslo in June 2007.
“In the past few days, a section of the media divulged certain information which might not necessarily be the real facts. This could hamper investigations,” Darmanin Demajo said.
“I understand that the public is eager to know what really happened in that match but such procedures take time. We want to see this case solved and, if found, culprits are brought to justice.
“But we cannot rush and my appeal is for the media to show discretion in their reporting and let the authorities conduct investigations without added complications.”