Former MFA treasurer Norman Darmanin Demajo yesterday confirmed officially that he will be contesting the post of MFA president in next summer’s MFA elections.

Darmanin Demajo, speaking at a press conference at the St Andrew’s FC stadium, said he had taken the decision after the encouragement he had received from several persons involved in local football, especially those at the grass roots.

There had been another person who contacted me to tell me that he also intended to contest the post. “However, he also confirmed his willingness to step back if I decided to run for the post myself. It was near the end of January that I finally decided to go for it, as I am convinced that the present administration has run its full course and was due for a change,” he said.

He added that after taking the decision, the first thing he did was make a personal ‘wish-list’ for Maltese football, identifying priorities, especially after having taken a look at the MFA’s last accounts.

He said: “We all know that the financial situation of the clubs is not rosy. I am hereby pledging to do my best to improve the financial plight of the clubs. I want to help them change their infrastructure so that they will be able to generate a better revenue to be able to run their clubs smoothly. He referred to his club’s stadium saying that it was leaving a good income in the hands of the club,” he said.

He added that this was part of a dream which envisages every club having its own stadium, whether small or big. “It is also my plan to see football being played on artificial turf pitches all over the island. Also, it is also my wish to see the Premier League being played on a home and away basis as I believe such a system would attract much more people to the game rather than having it played as it is now – as it has been for more than 100 years – mostly at one venue. If we take the game to the villages and our towns, I am sure there will be many more followers who will be attracted,” he stated.

As for those clubs whose village or town does not afford the space for a stadium, Darmanin Demajo said: “In such cases, mentality has to be changed. A club can also find an alternative site outside the town or village for their stadium. Working hand in hand with the government and MEPA would make it possible to see such a project taking shape as quickly as possible. At present, three stadiums, among them the Victor Tedesco Stadium at Hamrun, can be upgraded to meet the standards required,” he said.

Asked whether he would forecast a change in the relationship with UEFA with him as president and Dr Mifsud on the UEFA Executive Committee, Darmanin Demajo quickly replied that it would constitute no problem. “As Maltese, we all have to acknowledge and be proud of Dr Mifsud’s achievements at UEFA. His re-election to the UEFA Executive Committee will certainly be respected by all, but this will, in no way, effect the running of the association if I were to be elected its president,” he said. He added that he knew of other persons at UEFA who were not presidents of their associations.

Asked whether he had already pinpointed some persons to accompany him at the top, Darmanin Demajo said he could not mention any names yet, except for that of Pippo Psaila, a former successful national team coach who is now the Malta Olympic Committtee Director of Sports. “Psaila has already given me his word and acceptance to be one of the vice-presidents,” he said.

Darmanin Demajo went on to say that he had no grudges against anyone of the present vice-presidents and so long as they shared the same ideas, he did not see why they could not work together in future for the good of football.

In the next few weeks, Darmanin Demajo will be visiting all the clubs to explain his plan for the future of Maltese football. He will be having an opportunity to explain in detail his objectives and tell them what he thinks is to be done to build their clubs on a sound basis.

The MFA’s annual general meeting is to be held in the last week of July.

Darmanin Demajo is being backed by his club St Andrew’s and in a personal capacity by Paul Falzon, Bjorn Vassallo PRO, and David Bianchi, secretary.

Dr. Mifsud: “I will wait and see what happens”

MFA president Dr Joseph Mifsud is well aware that Norman Darmanin will be a candidate for the post of president of the MFA in next summer’s election.

Asked whether he intended contesting the election once again next July, Dr Mifsud said: “It is still early. I will wait and see what happens. I will make no other comments right now,” he told The Malta Independent.

Dr Mifsud was re-elected to sit on UEFA’s Executive Committee three weeks ago for another term of four years.