With local Premier League football resuming this week after the three-month break, it was announced yesterday that the Bank of Valletta and Melita have agreed to extend their partnership agreements with the Malta Football Association for another three years.

Dr Angelo Chetcuti, MFA secretary general, told reporters yesterday that the two entities were very important partners for the association and admitted that it was not difficult to convince both to extend their partnership agreements for another three years.

He went on to say that the association, season after season, was doing its best to try and improve its product, adding that the MFA was aware that attendances are not those which the clubs would like to attract to our footballing venues.

Dr Chetcuti added that according to a scientific survey held not long ago, it was revealed that despite the small attendances, it was evident that the public was very much interested in the Maltese Premier League. "We are aware of the interest shown in bars, restaurants and other public places, not to mention homes, but to get people attending at the local venues remains something quite difficult," he admitted.

Charles Azzopardi, in charge of marketing at the Bank of Valletta, said that the Bank was proud to be associated with the ruling body of football in Malta.

He added: "Our relations are getting better year after year. Now we are in our 14th year of sponsoring Malta's top football competition - we can call our relationship with the MFA as an intimate one. In fact, Bank of Valletta has become synonymous with Maltese football (and other sport)."

Azzopardi also said that he would relish another exciting season as the last one which was decided on the last round. "Never in the 14-year partnership can I remember such an exciting season. I sincerely augur best wishes to the association and also to the clubs to go through a successful season," he said.

Mr Simon Poljsak, Product manager of TV, Internet and Telephony at Melita, said the company was also honoured to be sponsoring the Premier League. "This agreement continues to show our commitment towards the local game," he added.

Poljsak revealed that Melita will be showing two live Premier League matches every week (obviously on match days). "We will therefore be making a bigger effort to make the game more appealing to the local sporting public, especially our customers, as well as to all football fans," he added.

 

New logo for 2018-19 BOV Premier League unveiled

The BOV Premier League, which gets underway next Friday, has a new logo as part of a rebranding exercise aimed at raising the profile of the country's flagship football competition.

The new logo, featuring the outline of the new BOV Premier League trophy which was lifted for the first time by Valletta FC at the end of last season, was unveiled during what the Malta FA dubbed as the 'warm-up event', held at the Trophies Lounge yesterday.

Dr Angelo Chetcuti, the Malta FA Secretary General, said the new logo reflects the willingness of the association and the main stakeholders to enhance the image of the BOV Premier League across the board.