Recently the Malta Amateur Wrestling Federation held its Annual General Meeting during which a new council was elected to hold office for the next two years.

Simon Bonello was once again re-confirmed as the Federation’s president. Bonello, who was uncontested for the post, has been at the helm of the national federation since its foundation in 1969.

Pierre Cassar and Alfred Ellul Mercer were re-confirmed as Secretary General and Treasurer respectively. Both were also uncontested for the posts.

Jesmond Giordimaina who is also the national coach, Abraham Vassallo, Paul Farrugia and Manuel Cilia are the other members serving on the council. Farrugia, who is the only qualified international freestyle wrestling referee on the island returned to the Council after an absence of three years.

In his speech, President Bonello highlighted the Federation’s achievements during the year in review. He remarked that he was particularly satisfied that in past three years, a good number of youngsters had started practising this sport and that some of them had already competed in international competitions abroad.

Maltese freestyle wrestlers have a history of successes when competing in international competitions and in the past athletes from the national federation have competed in all the major sporting events including the Olympic, Commonwealth and Mediterr-

anean Games as well as the European and World Championships.

Bonello opined that such success can only be maintained if the young crop of freestyle wrestlers are fully focused on their training and on meeting their pre-established objectives set by the national coach.

In his closing remarks, Bonello underlined the need for the Federation to attract more sponsorship and revenue as this money could be invested in sending promising athletes to compete in important international events organised by the International Freestyle Wrestling Federation (FILA)

National coach Jesmond Giordimaina presented a detailed technical report on the results obtained by the Federation’s athletes in competitions held overseas. The financial statements for the year in review were also presented and endorsed by the members present.