SILVIO VELLA
Double Trap Silver medalist in the seniors World Cup, William Chetcuti returned from Belgrade yesterday afternoon and deservingly was given a hero’s welcome upon his arrival at the Malta airport, by many distinguished personalities among whom MOC president Lino Farrugia Sacco and Education minister, responsible for Sports Louis Galea.
Accompanied by his parents, coach Jimmy Bugeja and Malta Shooting Federation president Salvu Portelli, Chetcuti was driven straight to the MOC headqaurters at Tal-Qroqq to attend a special media conference, for which many members of the various sports federations were also present for this memorable occasion.
MOC general secretary Joe Cassar revealed that yesterday morning his Committee had informed the Olympic Solidarity and its director Pere Miro about Chetcuti’s achievement.
Olympic Solidarity had long believed in the Maltese shooter’s potential and awarded him a scholarship, worth some Lm11,000 to take part in the Athens Olympics.
The MOC have also been aware of Chetcuti’s talent and for the past four years they have invested about Lm60,000 in shooting. The next step, according to Mr Cassar, is the Beijing scheme for the next Olympic Games.
William Chetcuti fought out very tough competition against the world’s best shooters, including two shoot-offs to qualify for the final round and then again for the silver medal proper. as the Malta Shooting Federation president, Salvu Portelli, pointed out, the World Cup, played in first class shooting ranges in Belgrade, was a harder competition than the Olympic Games because whilst in the latter only two shooters from every country are allowed to take part, countries are allowed a maximum of five shooters. Malta, among 47 countries in Belgrade, had only William Chetcuti. The competition was won by Olympic champion Mohammed Al Maktoum of the United Arab Emirates.
But the young shooter is fast becoming the envy of other competitors and Mr Portelli revealed that his coach Jimmy Bugeja was also contacted by other countries to join their federation. Hopefully, Mr Bugeja will stay with William and the Maltese Federation.
MP Carmelo Abela, who was also present for the media conference, expressed satisfaction and, like all the rest, congratulated Chetcuti for making all Maltese so proud. He considers Chetcuti as one of Malta’s leading ambassadors.
Finally, MOC president Lino Farrugia Sacco conveyed congratulations on behalf of all the Committee as well as all sportsmen. He described Chetcuti’s achievement as a feat not only for the Shooting Federation but for Maltese sports in general. After thanking William, his family, his coach and all officials, Mr Farrugia Sacco emphasised on the need to launch a special project for William Chetcuti and other such ‘outstanding athletes’ who could benefit from.
In fact, prior to the media conference, a motion in this regard was presented at the MOC committee meeting to which all federations unanimously agreed upon.
The MOC president was confident that in the near future William Chetcuti will succeed to be the world’s best, only through more hard work, dedication and will from all parties concerned, including the government.
A token was presented by the MOC to coach Jimmy Briffa, the Shooting Federation president Salvu Portelli and of course to William Chetcuti himself.
In a short comment to the media, William Chetcuti said that he felt very honoured with such an achievement and felt proud that he made such a great name for Malta in the shooting sphere. He confirmed that after going so close in the Junior Championships with a runners-up spot a few days earlier, he did even better with a silver medal in the World Championships.