Fr Hilary Tagliaferro has retained his post as president of the Malta Youth Football Association as he was uncontested in the elections during the organisation’s Annual General Meeting, held recently.
In his address to the delegates, Fr Hilary encouraged clubs to continue their sterling contribution to local sport and urged them to find innovative ways to work on a more professional basis.
That way, they will ensure that young football hopefuls attending local nurseries will continue receiving top-quality guidance and the level of the game will go up, he said.
“We believe the time is ripe to venture into sport amalgamations, where the more established clubs would team up with smaller football nurseries, ensuring that all young players receive ample playing time,” Fr Hilary said.
Last season, the Birkirkara and Dingli Swallows nurseries collaborated closely in the U-15 category.
While lauding their joint-effort, the Youth FA president expressed confidence that such partnerships continue to expand in the future.
Luxol St Andrew’s are taking their youth development scheme to the south of the country after agreeing a partnership deal with Sta Luċija.
Meanwhile, the Youth FA is expected to embark on new projects and plans are already in store to introduce educational programmes for parents with children involved in the game, as well as nursery administrators.
“The first step will be an Erasmus Course in sports administration to be held in Scotland in the coming months,” Fr Hilary revealed.
“There will be EU funds to assist us in this project.”
Also uncontested in the Youth FA administrative elections were Joe Cassar (vice-president), Robert Attard (vice-president), Joe Micallef (secretary general) and Alfred Cacciotolo (treasurer). The elected members are Charles Cassar (Rabat), Godwin Aquilina (Sta Venera), Joe Baldacchino (Żabbar), Simon Spiteri (Mtarfa) and Paul Vella (Mġarr).
In a detailed report on the past season, Micallef said almost 750 matches in the APS leagues for U-15 and U-17 teams were played.
Micallef also announced the winners of the most promising youngsters’ awards for 2015-16.
The honours went to Clive Bouvet (Pietà Hotspurs, U-15) and Markus Grima (St Andrew’s, U-17).
The Fair Play award winners were Floriana (U-15) and Kalkara (U-17).