Former Hamrun Spartans president Victor Tedesco yesterday launched an appeal to all the present committee, members, supporters and to all Hamrunites to unite in this hour of difficulty for the club.
In a statement he issued yesterday, Tedesco said this was not the first time that the club had passed through a crisis. “Even before I had taken over in season 1982/83, the club had not won a trophy for a whole 36 years. Yet the enthusiasm towards the team had never ceased. It was in 1982/83 that together with some other people, we embarked on a successful 12-year era which saw the Spartans winning all the major Maltese football competitions. The club had become one of the top clubs in Malta,” he said.
Tedesco added that, in that era, the club had become the envy of all the other teams through its discipline, its image and also through its supporters’ attendances for the domestic matches. He added: “However, quite unfortunately, in season 1998/99, the loyal Spartans supporters were convinced to change the leadership, even after we had also officially opened our own Stadium. The change took place and the results are known to one and all.”
He recalled that he had been the number one target but he was disappointed mostly for those supporters who had attended the meeting because they loved the club. “Today, I am appealing once again to those same persons to attend the annual general meeting being held on 8 June at the premises of the club. I simply hope that everyone will offer his help to strengthen the club and instead of accepting things as they are, we change direction again and start working to see the club moving back to the glorious position it occupied in the period mentioned above,” he said.
He also thanked all the committee persons who worked during the past seven years. “I am sure they all did their very best to help the club and it is the fault of no one that there were no successes. They should not be ashamed and afraid to face the members during the meeting. They should be satisfied, albeit disappointed, that their work did not reap the desired fruits. I simply hope that the meeting will be attended by all Hamrunites who really have the club at heart, those who really wish the club to be successful once again,” he said.
Tedesco said it was important to retain the good work done by previous committees. “This is the attitude we will have to adopt to make unity our main target. Where are those people today who had instigated the change of direction during that meeting in season 1998/99,” he asked.
Finally, Tedesco, now 90 years old, said he had no intention of contesting for the presidency. “My time is over now, but I am ready to offer my help whenever requested.”