Marsascala Football Club is a step closer to having its own pitch, which is earmarked to form part of a sports complex to complement the proposed American University of Malta.

Unlike detractors of the controversial project, Marsascala FC is looking favourably at the development since it would provide the village with a much-needed sports complex.

A spokesman for the Office of the Prime Minister said that if the site does not change the American University of Malta will substantially upgrade the current pool, currently used by the waterpolo club, and lay a football pitch.

“These will be accessible to the public with the involvement of local football and waterpolo clubs.

“There are also preliminary discussions with the local football and waterpolo clubs so that they can include their proposals once a Mepa application is submitted by the American University of Malta. The library and other amenities may also be accessible to the public,” the spokesman said.

Cory Greenland

When contacted, Cory Greenland, a Marsascala FC committee member, said the club is “looking favourably” at the project “provided a reasonable landscape is kept”. “The club looks favourably at entering into discussions with the AUM to develop a football ground as part of the larger sports complex area. This will give us a home as a club and will give local teams, including the teenagers and children of the nursery, a facility they could call home,” Dr Greenland said.

He explained that with 12,000 residents in winter and around 20,000 in summer, the locality badly needs a football pitch and other sports facilities.

For training purposes, as well as the nursery, the club currently uses a “mini pitch” at the school located behind the church.

However, this was inadequate for the older age groups and the senior team.

He said the club has been lobbying for a proper football ground since 2010, when the club was finally set up, but he recalls efforts in his childhood for sports facilities in the locality.

In this case we are talking about a university and not just more apartments

The recently-developed family park was meant to include a sports complex but it was dropped due to technical concerns at the time.

Dr Greenland said the club has been involved in informal consultation so far.

“In principle our understanding is that this football ground will be included in the project if this takes place in Marsascala/Żonqor. It would be a badly-needed planning gain and a return to community. We are looking forward to seeing plans and to discuss the specifics in more detail,” he said.

Asked about the site chosen for the project, which has been mired in controversy, Dr Greenland said: “As long as the development is made to complement the landscape and provides a gain to the community in terms of sports facilities and economic boom, it is a reasonable approach to use of land.

“I have seen similar land within the development zone developed into apartments. They were fields where we used to play and enjoy the countryside. In this case we are talking about a university and not just more apartments. If the return to the community is provided, I believe it is very reasonable,” he said.