Birkirkara F.C. Youth Nursery have just reached a twinning agreement with Italian side Atalanta BC. This is an agreement from which young players attending the Birkirkara nursery stand to benefit a lot.

The Atalanta youth sector is one of the best, if not the best, in Italy. It is a nursery which has produced some of the top Italian players in past years.

The Birkirkara F.C. Youth Nursery, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, had been holding discussions with Atalanta’s youth sector which eventually led to the twinning agreement between the two parties.

The climax was reached on Sunday April 20th with a visit by the Birkirkara Under-14 side in Bergamo. The team led by coach Franco Agius met the Atalanta beginners led by coach Mauro Fumagalli. Although the Maltese side was made of players who are a year older than the players in the Italian side, it was a very difficult game for Birkirkara.

Atalanta, in fact, won 2-1, turning defeat into victory in the final seven minutes. The Birkirkara players were then the guests of Atalanta for the Serie A match between Atalanta and Juventus at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’ Italia in Bergamo.

The following day, Birkirkara played another friendly match against Pontirolo. The Birkirkara players were given the opportunity to play with the official kit of Atalanta and the game ended in a goalless draw.

The Maltese contingent, led by chairman Henry Bray, then visited the Centro Bortolotti di Zingonia – the Italian club’s official headquarters where they were taken for a short tour by the director of the Atalanta BC Settore Giovanile Mino Favini who explained the club’s set-up.

They also visited another club from Bergamo – Serie B side Albinoleffe.

The Birkirkara contingent met coach Elio Gustinetti, director general Sandro Turotti, captain Ivan Del Prato and defender Gabriele Perico.