Malta FA President, Norman Darmanin Demajo took the podium at the Malta Football Association Annual General Meeting 2018 with his closing address speech very much addressed to his decision to contest or not a forthcoming term next year.
"First and foremost let me remind you that our main concern will remain the stability of clubs. I would like to point out and clear things out as per regards contesting my presidency for another term during the forthcoming presidency election. Here I would like to mention those member clubs and persons who have always supported me in my presidency and to whom I owe a lot. Thus I would like to cut out on any gossip in relation to all this talk and straighten things here and now in this AGM.
"I have an obligation to you all who have in many ways supported me in this 8-year journey during which I have supported you all as best I could. The time has come when I now need your guidance, your support and assistance in helping me take the best decision in the best interests of our Association.
“One of the biggest challenges that world football is facing, especially at club level, is the lack of stability in the management and administration of the game, in all countries at all levels.
One of the biggest challenges that world football is facing today, especially at club level, is the lack of stability that exists in the management and administration of the game, in all countries at all levels.
“In 2016 I mentioned that this would be my last term as President. I promise you that I will always be there for you, the member clubs. You all know this. Still I retirate again that this is not an easy decision to undertake by myself. I have to take certain factors into consideration. Thus I ask you for your feedback and then we together will be in a position to decide if I will contest my presidency for another term."
The Malta FA Presidency again vowed his support to the member clubs and push local clubs to engage more in local talent in order to boost our national teams by stepping up with the introduction of a new scheme entitle the U-21 Player Development Fund.
Starting from season 2018-19, local clubs will receive a solidarity payment for every young player aged less than 21 years they field for a minimum of 30 minutes during a competitive match.
Premier League - €125 per match for every U-21 player that meets the stipulated criteria. The maximum amount a club can benefit from this scheme is €6,500 per season
Division One - €70 for every U-21 player per match, up to maximum of €3,600 per season.
Division Two - €60 for every U-21 player per match, up to maximum of €3,000
Division Three - €50 for every U-21 player per match, up to maximum of €2,500 per team.
The Malta FA has allocated a budget of €210,000 for this new scheme.
Malta FA General Secretary Angelo Chetcuti also spoke about the positive work and projects that the Malta FA has embarked upon.
"I cannot not hide my feelings about the big projects the local Association have been and are still working upon. Let me just mention that in a recent survey, we now know that the local game of football approximately generates 12,000 bed nights, so as you can see domestically football gets things going. I also have to mention the nurseries that provides football education to youngsters. We are also tackling obesity - so as you can see everything coming from the game of football. The UEFA GROW Project will take us to another level of football, getting us to know better what age groups participate in football, about football perception coming from the general public and other interesting factors. Interest generated from the general public is on a very large scale. At this stage our biggest concern is of course attendances so we are also working on this. Football Management Project is the next platform that will benefit clubs in a big way. We are looking forward to our next objective - that of participating in the forthcoming UEFA Nations League. We know it will not be easy. We are already seeing new enthusiasm in the Malta camp since the introduction of the new head coach, Ray Farrugia. We also have to push further to promoting girls and women's football plus other important objectives, which are all in the pipeline. Finally I would like to thank each and every member working for the Malta FA for their tireless work."
The financial report, presented by Ivan Mizzi, the Malta FA Treasurer during today's Annual General Meeting, underlines the Malta FA’s commitment towards it clubs as the expenditure in this sector accounts for almost half of the association’s cash outflow in season 2017-18, which amounted to €8 million.
Over the past 12 months, the Malta FA devoted €88,000 from its’ Football Social Responsibility fund to support good cause.
For season 2018-19, the local FA will have a budget of €114,000 for social responsibility initiatives. A total of 20 non-governmental organisations are expected to benefit from this fund.
Bjorn Vassallo, Director of Member Associations Europe at FIFA and Noel Mooney, Head National Associations’ Business Development at UEFA, represented the two international football bodies at the 2018 MFA AGM.