After a two year break, the Emirates Airline Young Footballer Challenge is making a comeback, thanks to Emirates renewed sponsorship, Arsenal Malta Supporters Club (AMSC) and the English Premier Football Club, Arsenal FC.
Following Emirates’ sponsorship of Arsenal FC, the Arsenal Malta Supporters Club are organising the 4th edition of the Emirates Airline Young Footballers Challenge for talented young footballers.
Youth Nursery Football Clubs in Malta and Gozo are invited to register two of their top young soccer players, boys and girls, born in 1994 and born in 1995, (Under 11 and Under 12) for the fourth edition of the Emirates Airline Young Footballer Challenge.
The Challenge will take place at the Centenary Stadium at Ta’ Qali on Saturday, 26th May 2007. The competition is designed to enhance individual technique of Maltese young footballers.
Arsenal FC support
During the event’s briefing held specifically for the Youth Nurseries at the AMSC premises in Santa Venera, the Club’s Chairman, Richard Felice Pace, announced that Arsenal FC have already committed their support towards this challenge.
The Premier Club will be sending two senior official youth coaches to Malta to oversee the event and assist the adjudicating panel, which will be made up of three established Maltese coaches. The visiting coaches will be the key speakers during an evening forum to be held for all football coaches of Youth Nursery clubs.
Mr Felice Pace said that the Arsenal Supporters Club believes that this event provides an opportunity for young aspiring footballers to test their soccer skills individually rather than as a team.
He said: “The Challenge is designed to develop individual talent of the young 11 and 12 year olds registered with Nursery Clubs in Malta and Gozo. Each child competes among the best players of same age group from every participating Youth Nursery. We augur that as many Nursery Clubs as possible will take up this challenge and participate. The two Nursery clubs representing the two overall winners will each receive handsome prize money.”
Emirates’ involvement
In 2004, the Dubai-based international airline, signed the biggest sponsorship deal worth £100 million in football history with Arsenal FC. The agreement also included Emirates’ naming rights to Arsenal’s new £357 million, the Emirates Stadium, for the following 15 years.
Malta is continuing to build on the success of the previous three editions of the Emirates Airline Young Footballer Challenge. The concept of this challenge was developed in Malta by Emirates Airline.
Emirates’ Manager for Malta and Cyprus, Paul Fleri Soler, said: “Emirates has always believed in this initiative for young aspiring footballers in Malta and Gozo. Following Emirates’ sponsorship with Arsenal FC, we immediately started talks with Arsenal supporters club in Malta to continue building on their successors. Past winners of the Emirates Airline Young Footballer Challenge have eventually gained further opportunities in their training. We hope that many children will participate in the Emirates Airline Young Footballer Challenge 2007 and that we will see some stars of the future develop their skills in the exhilarating sport.”
AMSC Event Co-ordinator, Peter Paul Gauci, gave details of the competition. He said that this year the Emirates Airline Young Footballer Challenge is open for young female and male footballers who will compete in the same competition.
Each nursery is invited to select two top players: one born in 1994 and another player born in 1995 (as from 1 January to 31 December of each mentioned year). Those Nursery Clubs that train young female footballers may also submit the name of best girl for the each group apart from submitting the names of the two boys. This means that the Club with female players may submit the names of 2 girls and 2 boys for the competition.
On the 26th May 2007, all chosen participants will be tested on their individual skills in dribbling, juggling and shooting, according to the Set Minimum Standards of the Nursery Clubs.
“The Challenge will close with the presentation of Emirates Airline Young Footballer Challenge 2007 Shield, presented to the coach of the overall winning Nursery Club. Two young footballer winners (1994 & 1995) will each receive a Trophy and a prize of Lm100 worth of Arsenal branded goods.”
Nominations from nursery clubs will be accepted on the respective application form. These forms together with the Rules & Regulations will be mailed to each Youth Nursery in Malta and Gozo. The closing date of entries is Friday, 14th April 2007.
Competition for AMSC In conjunction with the fourth edition of Emirates Airline Young Footballer Challenge, AMSC is holding a separate competition for children whose parents are members of the club. AMSC members are now able to register their children aged 9 to 15 years for the membership competition. The winner of the Membership Competition will receive a Trophy and Arsenal FC branded gift.
ASCM was founded in Malta in 1980 and in 2005 the club celebrated its 25th anniversary.
The Maltese club is considered as the leading Arsenal supporters club for other Arsenal supporters clubs in the world. It is one of the oldest supporters clubs and the only one that owns its own premises.
The Chairman, Mr Richard Felice Pace, is one of the founding members. ASCM currently has around 400 members. Its website is www.arsenalmalta.com
Interested supporters in Malta are invited to join the Club and may contact the club on tel: 2147 0145 or write to AMSC, 14 Misrah il-Kebbies, St. Venera HMR 11
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