The Malta Olympic Committee yesterday named a 47-strong contingent, 29 of them athletes, to represent the country at the forthcoming Mediterranean Games in Almeria, Spain, between 23 June and 3 July.

Young shooter William Chetcuti, a gold medal winner at the Andorra Games for European Small States earlier this month, has again been named as Malta’s flag bearer at the Opening Ceremony of the Games.

Eighteen of the 29 athletes taking part are members of the Olympic football team or rather, most of the MFA’s Under 21 squad, usually coached by Mark Miller. This time, however, this Olympic squad is under the hands of Maltese coaches Silvio Vella, Miller’s first assistant, and Edwin Camilleri, two former national team players.

Chef de Mission Pippo Psaila explained that the team formed part of the Olympic family, but it was the prerogative of the MFA as to who the coaches and the players would be. “We have nothing to do with that,” he said.

He added the MOC was aware that football was again forming part of the Olympic family after a very long absence, that is, after 42 years. It also thought the boys had a good standard and had, in fact, left their ticket open, as they wished to see them advancing beyond the qualifying round.

Psaila said this were completely different Games from those at Andorra. “They are definitely of a much higher level, and once again, the MOC had to be selective and exclude some athletes. Those selected have our full confidence. We are sure they will be able to give a very good account of themselves.

“There were others like Simon Gerada of table-tennis, who had the right to be present in Almeria, because he won a gold medal in Andorra, but the Table-Tennis association renounced its participation saying that the level was very high. Others who had to be excluded were tennis, weightlifting, sailing, cycling and basketball. These had failed to reach the levels required,” said Psaila.

He also remarked that Emmanuel Grima was the only athlete of those who had been in Andorra who had not won a gold medal. “But his performance in winning the silver medal in the double trap event, convinced the Executive Committee of the MOC to include him in the contingent,” said Psaila.

The Chef de Mission remarked that the MOC was confident that the Maltese athletes will again provide positive results. “I am convinced our athletes will again rise to the occasion. There is a potential for the winning of some medals,” he said, making an emphasis on the plural of the word medal. “We are hopeful in the knowledge that these Games are certainly difficult, but not impossible. If our athletes are given the same support received by others, then I’m sure they would be able to reach even better levels. I have now been in the coaching field for 28 years, 21 of which at the highest levels. The courage and determination shown by our young athletes in Andorra was enough to justify their presence there. I am sure the same will again be said of the athletes representing the country in Almeria,” he said.

After announcing that Chetcuti will again be Malta’s flag-bearer at these Games, MOC president Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco went on to say that this youngster has put Malta’s name on the map and that is why he is again being selected for this honour.

The MOC president said he was hopeful this time that the Malta national anthem will also be heard in these Games for the first time. “The opportunity is there for the taking. It is the result of the work done by everyone during the last nine years. We have achieved good results in all disciplines. We must continue pulling the rope together to be able to reach our goals,” he said.

Farrugia Sacco said everyone must be aware that the Maltese athletes will be competing against top class athletes, especially those from the giants, that is, Italy, Spain, France, Greece and Croatia. “However, our athletes are well prepared and we seem to have good prospects in certain fields,” he added.

The MOC said his committee will not stop working when these Games are over. “After the Games, it will be good for us all to meet and analyse what went right and what went wrong in all Games we took part in. We have to make a good post mortem to learn our lessons which, hopefully, would lead us to win our first Olympic medal in the next edition in Beijing, China, in 2008,” he said.

Earlier, secretary general Joe Cassar had given some information on the Games which are now in their 15th edition. He said 21 countries will be represented and athletes will be taking part in 24 different disciplines.

The countries hail from three continents – Europe, Asia and Africa.

He also said that Malta will be taking part in a Youth Camp during the Games, wherein it will be represented by athletes Sarah Vella and Christopher Camilleri.

The Maltese contingent

MOC officials

Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco, president, Pippo R. Psaila, Chef de Mission, Joe Cassar, Secretary general, Julian Pace Bonello, Asst. Chef de Mission, David Azzopardi, Director of Finance, Dr Kirill Micallef Stafrace, Director of Marketing.

Football

Officials: A. Gambin, masseur, Silvio Vella and Edwin Camilleri, coaches, Dr Stephen Zammit, doctor, Lawrence Ellul.

Players: Andre Agius, Edmund Agius, Matthew Bartolo, Steven Bezzina, David Camenzuli, Dyson Falzon, Clayton Failla, Paul Fenech, Kenneth Spiteri, Andrew Hogg, Alex Muscat, Bernard Paris, Jonathan Pearson, Joe Sammut Vasquez, Ryan Fenech, Mark Gauci, Andrew Scerri.

Swimming

Official: Istvan Kormos

Athlete: Angela Galea.

Golf

Coach: Alex Mangion.

Player: Andy Borg.

Shooting

Officials: Jimmy Bugeja, coach, Saviour Portelli.

Athletes: William Chetcuti, Emmanuel Grima.

Judo

Official: Nicolangela Fetto, coach

Athlete: Marcon Bezzina

Wrestling

Official: Jesmond Giordemaina, coach

Athlete: Abraham Vassallo

Athletics

Official: Ralph Mifsud

Athletes: Carol Galea, Rashid Chouhal, Darren Gilford, Mario Bonello, Jeandre Mallia.