Diadora, through their agents in Malta, TeamSport, have announced that they will be the national teams’ kit sponsor for the next four years.
MFA president Dr Joseph Mifsud revealed that the well known sports firm will be supporting the Maltese national teams in all the categories and this sponsorship would run into several thousands of Maltese liri.
TeamSport representative Jonathan Darmanin explained that Diadora had developed two jerseys for the national team – a home jersey which is red with white inserts on the right side. The other is an away jersey which is white with red inserts. They both sport the national team’s symbol on the chest.
The Diadora uniforms guarantee the highest performance thanks to a perfect fit that allows players to move with ease because of the lightness of the materials which makes them transparent.
TeamSport already sponsors several local Premier League clubs. These are Birkirkara, Hibernians, Sliema, Marsaxlokk and Pieta Hotspurs.
Dr Mifsud also took the occasion to announce the national teams’ programme for this season. “It’s going to be an extensive programme for the national A team, due to the good number of competitive matches – apart from three friendlies – being played between next month and June of next year,” he said.
Dr Mifsud added that the MFA and its technical staff were working hard to make a bold effort to see the team avoiding last place in the group phase of the European championship, the finals of which are to be played in Austria and Switzerland in 2008.
The programme starts next month with a friendly against Slovakia with matches following against Turkey (in Frankfurt – behind closed doors), Hungary, Moldova, Greece, Norway and Bosnia again. The other two friendlies are against Lithuania (15 November) and Austria (7 February 2007).
Dr Mifsud said the national coach is hoping to get his players in shape during the forthcoming nine-day training camp in the Czech Republic.
The Under 21, Under 19 and Under 17 squads as well as the Amateur team will also have their normal commitments this season, although the U-21 will have no competitive matches. The women’s team will be inactive.
Dr Mifsud revealed that the financial situation of the MFA was sound and this was only thanks to the hard work put in by all members of the association.
The MFA president, replying to a question from the floor about the performances of the clubs in the European competitions, said that in his opinion, it was still impossible to stage the League between February and October or November. “This is because of logistical problems and the weather. Moreover, every two years we have the World Cup and the European Championship,” he said, adding that there would also be problems facing the first, second and the third divisions, not to mention the rest of the leagues.
Fitzel was asked about the present condition of the players in his squad and said: “After the European Cup matches, it is evident they have not yet reached their peak. They can play much better. I hope there will be a tremendous improvement after the camp in the Czech Republic.”
As for the injured players, Fitzel said: “Grima, Briffa, Cohen, Anonam, Pullicino and Barbara are all being missed. I am glad Woods is back with us and I sincerely hope that all the others will be back in one or two months to continue their preparations with us.”