A couple of weeks ago, in mid-August, I had written an analogy-based article titled ‘Only in Malta??’, an article whose main aim was to avert, if it was ever the case, the possibility of postponing a national team selection’s participation in a top-class global event.
I had based my thoughts on a number of rumours going round the basketball fraternity and coming from a large number of persons, who even have direct and close relation with the national teams, and not just merely a few individuals.
In one of the paragraphs I wrote “It is a fact that finances are limited and that such a historical, and most probably a one-off adventure as, in all probability, there will never be another chance to qualify for such a world-class event in the future, participation would create a substantial financial burden for the main national sporting body. However, are financial matters totally taking over the main idea behind sports and the Olympic ideal in general? Is denying a rightfully-won historical participation on financial grounds a right decision?”
Since the publication of that article I had the pleasure of formally meeting Malta Olympic Committee (MOC) sports director, Mr. Pippo Psaila, and MOC secretary, Mr. Joseph Cassar. In this meeting I am happy to say that I was assured that the MOC will never let money, even if limited or the MOC facing a tight budget, hinder the participation of any local athlete or national selection if the latter are prepared in a professional way and have reached the minimum qualifying standards to compete in the respective competition.
The MOC has the supreme and exclusive authority and responsibility to oversee the composition of any national participation in the major world games like the Olympic Games, the Commonwealth Games, the Mediterranean Games and the Games of the Small States of Europe. One other objective of the MOC is to ensure that preparations by prospective participants are of a standard that would ensure participation with honour in all events.
In the meeting it once more emerged clearly that the MOC believes in a number of factors, which I personally always deemed as highly necessary in order to compete in a professional way and thus I have no difficulty to agree with the same MOC, which must be present both at the preparation stage and even at the competitive stage of local athletes, namely commitment, determination and dedication.
Such a stance was reflected also clearly just a couple of days later when the MOC organized a press conference where the highest local sporting body launched its programme for the 2007 Small Nations Games to be held in Monaco.
In all honesty I believe that the MOC has taken a decisive but correct attitude in these last years when it comes to athletes' preparation. This was a bold step but necessary as our local sporting culture has always been lacking the real professional approach due to various factors (although finance still remains a big hurdle as promising athletes might still find it difficult to continue stead-fast in their highly demanding and long hours of preparation, notwithstanding all their positive energies and earnest goodwill, because at a certain point they have to make choices as to their livelihood).
Editor, Mr. Henry Brincat, hit the nail on the head, I rightfully believe, when stating “the MOC was in no position to be sending anyone for a holiday. Gone are the days when Maltese officials and athletes would be glad just to take part in a competition abroad. We used to be told that our athletes gained valuable experience, but then … ?” in an article published a few days ago.
From these columns I augur immensely that the MOC is successful in this arduous but possible task so that our children find a much healthier and professional sports environment within our shores.
In all sincerity, I would like to openly state that it was not my intention to put the MOC or the local basketball association in any bad light with my August article. My main aim was to keep the rumours going round at the time as such, i.e. merely gossip.
In the last weeks the situation is much clearer as the participation of the female national basketball side seems to be definite as the official schedule of games of the 2006 Commonwealth Games to be held in Melbourne, Australia, has been published even on the same MOC’s website. There have also been some slots in a number of local sports-based TV programmes and the national team’s venture in down under has been freely mentioned.
In fact Malta will start its official commitments on the 17th of March when they face world ranked number 19, New Zealand. Two days after, on Sunday 19th March they play against Nigeria (ranked 22 in the world) and then 'cross swords' with Malaysia on March 20th. In the other group, our other European counterparts in the competition, England are also facing a tough job as they are also the lowest ranked country as the group is composed also of world-ranked number 3 and tournament favourites Australia, Mozambique (ranked 37th ) and India (ranked 41st).
I have to naturally agree with the MOC’s concern on Malta’s eventual showing against such basketball giants. The task is a very difficult one. The least one expects is that the athletes prepare themselves earnestly and with full dedication and give their true 100% on the day of competition.
Personally I have always had the belief that if one gives his utmost and project all his possible energies both in training and, most importantly, then in competition, the eventual showing will be deemed as being highly satisfactory by all and sundry.
I just hope that this will be the case now for the basketball lasses and that they do everybody, locally and even our Maltese-blood colleagues in Australia, proud by giving their eventual best next march.
As for the MOC, a very well done for their stance and recent bearing and may local athletes be responsible and dedicated enough to fully heed to the MOC’s direction and requisites. Real and true sportsmen have no difficulty to fully understand the true value and aims of the MOC’s requirements.
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