Malta FA president Joe Mifsud has high hopes that the national team can end their dismal start to the World Cup 2010 qualifying trek with a positive result in today week's home clash with Albania.

After a highly encouraging Euro 2008 campaign, Malta have found the going tough in their opening World Cup qualifiers as their record of four defeats in as many matches fully illustrates.

Albania are Malta's first competitive opponents for 2009 and Dr Mifsud yesterday left no doubt as to what he expects from the national team next week.

"A satisfactory result against Albania is not only a wish but a must," Dr Mifsud told a news conference that covered a multitude of subjects.

"I know that in football, you can't make predictions but I'm upbeat about our chances."

The MFA's rapport with English club Sheffield United, who have forged a bond with Maltese football through their sponsorship deal with the Malta Tourism Authority, was among the topics discussed yesterday. Sheffield United had a four-strong delegation at the news conference, headed by Andy Daikin, the club's corporate director.

This evening's friendly between an MFA selection and Hungarians Ferencvaros, who are owned by Sheffield United chairman Kevin McCabe, is testament to the good ties between the local governing body of football and the Championship club. Dr Mifsud spoke positively about the level of co-operation between the two.

"In the past few months, we have enjoyed good co-operation with Sheffield United," the MFA president said. "Some of the association's officials, including our national coach, have been to Sheffield to see how the club operates from a football perspective. It was an enriching experience and we have been very impressed by Sheffield United's youth set-up.

"We have discussed ways and means to enhance our co-operation, especially in terms of youth development, and today's friendly is the first initiative resulting from such talks."

Dr Mifsud also derived great satisfaction from announcing that the new floodlights at the Hibs Ground will be officially inaugurated before next Tuesday's U-21 international friendly match between Malta and Denmark.

"The installation of new floodlights at the Hibs Ground is one of several projects undertaken by the association in collaboration with its member clubs," the MFA head enthused.

"The fund for these projects, aimed at pepping up facilities at club level, is €4 million. Half of this has been provided by UEFA under the Hat-Trick Programme 2 (2008-2012) and the other half is covered by the Malta FA through a bank loan.

"Several projects have already been completed and others, including those of Pembroke, Marsaxlokk and Sannat, are in the final stages."

Dr Mifsud also announced that Malta U-21 will play a friendly match against England C on February 17, also at the Hibs Ground.

England C manager Paul Fairclough has named an experimental squad. His selection includes six from outside England's Conference National division.

Switching his focus to next season, Dr Mifsud revealed that the MFA had decided to stage the preliminary round matches for the 2009-10 Champions League and UEFA Cup at the Centenary Stadium.

These matches are usually played at the National Stadium but this year's fixtures are penciled in for June, by which time the reseeding of the Ta' Qali pitch will not have been completed.

The MFA president said that the artificial pitch of the Centenary Stadium has a FIFA two-star certificate but they are now waiting for UEFA's green light to be able to hold European matches there.

Blades' exhibition

Sheffield United's Daikin also painted a rosy picture of their dealings with the MFA while stressing the club's willingness to strengthen their relations with Malta.

"I would like to thank the MFA for making our visit here possible," Daikin said. "It's a great honour for Ferencvaros to be in this country, the first time the club has been away from Hungary since they became part of the Sheffield United family.

"We want to develop our relationship with Malta further, also through the sponsorship agreement with the MTA. We'd also like to invite the national team of Malta for a training camp in Sheffield during the summer break."

Sheffield United will today inaugurate an exhibition of club souvenirs and memorabilia at the MTA offices in Valletta.

The impressive collection, which comprises what is widely regarded as the world's oldest football trophy and England's first hand-written rules of the game, is expected to be opened by Sheffield United captain Gary Speed this afternoon.

The Blades signed a one-year sponsorship deal with the MTA last summer but Daikin revealed that they are close to reaching agreement to extend their association.

"We're working hard on extending our relationship," Daikin said.

"Both sides are willing to continue and I'd also like to think that the whole country wants it to happen because the feedback has been extremely positive."