Following a meeting of the Executive Committee held yesterday at the MFA headquarters in Ta’ Qali, the association announced the appointment of Robert Gatt as Technical Director and Head of the MFA Technical Centre.
During the Executive Committee meeting, the MFA President, Norman Darmanin Demajo, gave details of various meetings that were held recently between the MFA President and Robert Gatt, wherein they discussed and agreed on the values, objectives and policies that will be given a priority by the new Technical Director and Head of the Technical Centre.
These will include an ‘open house’ policy with subsidised coaching courses and continued professional education for coaches of all levels together with the re-introduction of the regional scouting and coaching concept, which system was abruptly terminated by the previous MFA administration.
The preparation of all representative national teams will remain a pillar priority and the MFA will invest in new methods and latest professional technology aimed at ensuring that all players will strive to reach peak performance on match day.
The proposed measures include the investment and set-up of a sport science centre, video editing facilities, computer based match analysis software programs and a learning center, as well as mental preparation techniques, life skills education and one to one mentoring for all players selected for national team duty.
The Executive Committee unanimously agreed on the engagement of Robert Gatt who is regarded as one of the most highly qualified and experienced Maltese coaches on the island.
The MFA also believes that Robert Gatt has all the qualities and skills needed to successfully implement the policies as outlined above, and also to improve the relationship between the coaching staff at the Ta` Qali Technical Centre and the MFA member clubs by improving the communication that presently exists with the clubs and their respective coaches.
Gatt will also seek to incorporate the functions of the Malta Football Coaches Association and integrate these within the new parameters of the Technical Centre that will seek to broaden its operations and yet operate more efficiently by making better use of all human resources.
The MFA has full confidence in Gatt and has assured him of the total support of the association in this challenging appointment. The MFA is also confident that all Maltese coaches will fully endorse this appointment and offer their full support to Gatt, who on his part, will remain committed to ensuring that the balance between national team and club football is maintained and strengthened to ensure the development of the game at both levels, for the overall benefit of all football in Malta and Gozo.
Gatt is a former national team goalkeeper and was national Under 21 team coach for several years. He also coached Premier side Hibernians until a few years ago.