The Malta Football Association is putting the finishing touches to two schemes aimed at helping the clubs improve their level of organisation and facilities.
All the clubs affiliated with the Malta FA will soon start receiving financial assistance to engage the services of an MFA-recognised football administrator on a part-time basis.
The other scheme, entitled the MFA Facilities Fund Grant Scheme, will enable clubs to apply for grants to undertake infrastructural projects, such as pitch improvements, floodlights, dressing rooms, as well as health and safety equipment.
While the two schemes are still a work-in-progress, Malta FA President Norman Darmanin Demajo outlined the key aspects.
“The feedback for the first MFA Course in Football Administration, which came to a conclusion recently, has been immensely positive,” Darmanin Demajo said during a Malta FA Council meeting.
“A total of 60 candidates have completed this course. Now that we can bank on these administrators who have a sound knowledge of the basics of football administration, we are working to introduce a scheme through which clubs will receive financial help to employ a football administrator on a part-time basis.”
The level of financial assistance will be based on the clubs’ licence – professional, semi-professional or amateur – with Darmanin Demajo explaining that the requirements vary according to the status of the clubs.
The annual estimated cost of the football administrators’ scheme is €150,000.
Explaining the idea behind the new facilities fund, the MFA President said several clubs have approached the Association in recent months seeking assistance on infrastructural projects.
The Association will be adding €100,000 to the sum derived from disciplinary sanctions to create this fund which should go a long way towards helping clubs carry out embellishment projects.
Darmanin Demajo said the idea to create this fund came from Ivan Mizzi, the Malta FA Treasurer.
The Malta Football Players Association (MFPA) have conveyed their appreciation to the Malta FA for supporting their initiative to sponsor first-aid sessions at local clubs.
Ten clubs have already benefited from this scheme.
Plans are underway to organise a tour of the new BOV Premier League trophy for local schools.
A Malta FA delegation will be taking the new league trophy to a number of schools by way of promoting Maltese football among children and youths while also giving them the oppportunity to take a photo with the beautiful cup.
The trophy, designed and crafted by renowned London-based silversmiths Thomas Lyte, was on display at the venue of Tuesday’s Malta FA Council meeting.
The new silverware will be presented to the winners of the BOV Premier League at the end of the season.
It is part of the new MFA family of trophies as new cups have also been designed for the first, second and third division championships.
Dr Angelo Chetcuti, the Malta FA General Secretary, said that the national team is set to play three friendly matches during their 10-day training camp in Austria.
The training camp, to be held in the May-June period, and friendly matches are part of the team’s preparations for their commitments in the inaugural UEFA Nations League. Malta has been drawn in Group 3 of League D along with Azerbaijan, Faroe Islands and Kosovo.
Later this month, Malta will play two friendly matches at home to Luxembourg on March 22 and against Finland in Turkey four days later.
Dr Chetcuti congratulated the Malta U-16 team following their successful participation in the UEFA Youth Development Tournament.
Led by coach Noel Turner, the Maltese team claimed top spot after beating Andorra (on penalties), Gibraltar and Liechtenstein, emulating the achievement of their female counterparts who won a similar tournament a few weeks ago.