Mr Henry Bray, Birkirkara FC Youth Nursery Chairman, announced that the committee had reached agreement with Italian youth football giants Atalanta BC to initiate a mutual ambitious football youth training programme of great benefit not only to the children registered with Birkirkara Youth Nursery but also, useful to the nursery coaching staff giving their services there.

Last February, Dione Mercieca, Company Director of Allsports International Ltd (installers of Birkirkara FC Youth Nursery state-of-the-art synthetic turf pitches and Italgreen's representative in Malta) proposed a meeting between the two sides and to this end, a delegation from Birkirkara flew to Bergamo to visit Serie B title contenders Atalanta BC - a football club renowned mostly for promoting youth soccer players with big names like Scirea, Cabrini, Donadoni, Inzaghi, Vieri and the recent Pazzini and Montolivo. The group included Henry Bray (President), Franco Agius (Nursery headcoach), Robert Bray (asst. treasurer) and John Sciberras (coach).

During their visit at the "Centro Bortolotti di Zingonia", the club's official premises, Atalanta's Sports Director, Gabriele Messina greeted the whole delegation and explained the whole club's structure whilst the Maltese contingent had the time to explore the professional training facilities offered there.

A very important meeting was held with Atalanta's Technical Adviser, Mino Favini and headcoach and former player, Stefano Bonnacorso. The group had also the chance to meet first team coach Stefano Colantuono prior to the league game against Catania and were even offered complimentary tickets to watch the game at Atalanta's home stadium.

A month has elapsed from that date and now, the hard working Birkirkara Youth Nursery committee has launched the initial phase of the "Zingonia" project which includes an invitation to Birkirkara Youth Nursery coaching staff to attend a coaching clinic in Italy next month while an Italian delegation will be coming over to visit the Birkirkara Youth Nursery premises.

Also, Atalanta BC coaches will be coming to Malta this year to assess the children during various training sessions and even deliver refresher courses to the nursery coaching staff. Through this venture, all those promising youngsters may even be offered the chance to have individual trials in Italy with Atalanta BC.

Reckoning that this is definitely a unique and ambitious programme, Birkirkara Youth Nursery will be very keen in making the best out of this exclusive offer which will be offered solely to children and coaching staff within the Birkirkara Youth Nursery clan.

For further information, one may contact Henry Bray on 99468248 or visit the Nursery's Football Training Grounds at P. Bontadini Street in Birkirkara.