The FISTF World Grand Masters is being organised in Gozo on November 27.

Addressing a news conference in the presence of the Parliamentary Secretary for Sport, Clyde Puli, and the Minister for Gozo, Giovanna Debono, Silvio Catania, actual president of the FISTF since January 2010 outlined a brief history about the Masters competition of FISTF.

In 1999, Olivier Pere from Belgium who at that time was the Sports Director of FISTF launched the idea to hold a competition between the first 12 of the world rankings. With a plan to be held every two years, the first edition kicked off in the year 2000 in Leverkusen, Germany. From there on, the competition was held every two years and Malta hosted the fourth edition in 2006.

Catania said that as from this year, there is a change in format. Instead of the World Ranking, the qualification passport to this competition is now for those who won a World Cup since the first one in 1994 in the Open or Veteran Category.

He also added that the host nation, Malta, has the right to put a guest player but he or she has also to be a World Cup winner.

Thanks to the Maltese national team which this year won the gold medal in the Teams Open category, Malta obtained the right to have one player. The choice of Mark Gauci was based on the fact that he was the captain of the team.

Anthony Sapiano, President of the Malta Table Football Sports Association stressed the point that for Malta organising this competition was a big honour. He also highlighted the fact that Malta was the first nation to organise two editions in 10 years.

He thanked the Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz, especially the general manager Noel Attard without whose aid the attractive packet offered to all players and officials would have been impossible.

He also stressed that the aid of sports authorities such as the Kunsill Malti ghall-Isports and the Malta Tourism Authority was vital to reach this level of organisation.

Ms Giovanna Debono, Minister for Gozo, said that this FISTF World Grand Masters is going to be the second sports activity to be held in Gozo in a few days. She added, that the Ministry’s duty was to help such activity from the fund for Sports Organisations that organise international competition on the sister island. She also thanked the MTFSA for the initiative of distributing table football material to schools and youth centres, which will be done by the Ministry for Gozo in the coming weeks to promote this sport in Gozo.

PS Puli talked about the importance of such sports activities and their branding effect on Gozo. He also added that the government, in this budget re-allocated funds for such activities to be held in Gozo.

The competition is to be held at the Kempinski Hotel, San Lawrenz, on Saturday 27 November as from 9.30am onwards. All those interested to watch the matches can attend and admission is free.