Sporting Malta was saddened yesterday with the news of the passing away of Victor Tedesco, at the venerable age of 92.

The former Msida St Joseph and Hamrun Spartans president, as well as MFA Executive Committee member, will be remembered by all football followers as the man who saved Maltese football in the eighties rebuilding enthusiasm in the local game after taking over the reins at Hamrun Spartans in 1980.

Football then moved over to Ta’ Qali from Gzira, and he managed to build a side capable of winning everything local football had to offer.

Tedesco will also be remembered for bringing over some good foreign players among them the first arrivals, Peter Hatch and John Lineker.

It was season 1982/83 when the Spartans won their first league title under Tedesco. Enthusiasm at Hamrun increased considerably and sporting rivalries with other clubs increased as did attendances at the Ta’ Qali Stadium. It was the start of an unforgettable era for local football which remained in Victor’s heart and mind till his death.

Among the foreigners he brought over to play for Hamrun in that memorable era were Ivanov, Hankin, Morley, Barnes, Latchford, Rimmer, Leigh and Gallagher.

To Victor’s credit as well – he also lured Malta’s top footballers of the time to Hamrun and these included internationals Ray ‘Mundu’ Vella – Tedesco once described his signature as the icing on the cake – Ray and George Xuereb as well as Edwin Farrugia from Floriana, Charles Zammit from Gzira and Carlo Seychell from Valletta, apart from introducing several players from his own Hamrun, such as Alfred Azzopardi, Michael Degiorgio, Salerno and the two Refalo brothers, Gejtu and Leo.

During that great era, he led the Spartans to several successes, including all honours in Maltese football, among them four Malta Championship victories and six FA Trophy wins.

Another great satisfaction was that day when he led the Spartans in the elimination of Irish club Ballymena United from the first round of the Cup Winners Cup in 1984-85.

During that era, the Spartans played regularly in European football and faced teams such as Dundee United, Everton, Reggina, Rapid Vienna, Dinamo Moscow, Real Valladolid, Nentori Tirana and Partizani Tirana.

The Victor Tedesco Stadium was another of his dreams that came true when it was inaugurated in 1996. It will remain as a monument in his memory for ever.

His death will leave a void not only among the Hamrun Spartans football fraternity, but among all local football enthusiasts.

Thanks Victor and Goodbye