The MFA has announced the appointment of Mr. Ray Farrugia as Coach for the Malta National Under 21 team, together with Mr. Ronald Vella who has been engaged as Ray Farrugia’s assistant. The agreement was finalised Saturday following a meeting held with MFA President Norman Darmanin Demajo.
Farrugia and Vella will take immediate charge of the U/21 squad, where they will be responsible of the selection of the players that will make up the squad that will compete and participate in the upcoming competition whose draws will be known in early February, 2011. The MFA is confident that these appointments will bring in a rich background and valuable experience which will enhance the technical centre which is in an ongoing upgrading process.
Ray Farrugia has won every major honour with Floriana FC with whom he debuted in top football in Malta at the tender age of 16.
In his playing career Farrugia played for Malta at Youth and International level.
Farrugia’s coaching career started off with a Level 2 coaching badge acquired in the National Coaching Scheme of the Australian Football Federation. In the year 2001 he then attained a UEFA B coaching license. His coaching career started off with Naxxar Lions and then he was approached by the MFA to take over the Malta U21 National Side with the team achieving a string of positive results in the Under 21 qualifying campaigns. His experience in the Premier League with Pieta’ Hotspurs, Marsaxlokk, and Sliema, enriched his understanding of the game and during this time he even opened a football school, Zazu Football School, which quickly established itself as a leading private academy on the island.
Ronald Vella is a qualified accountant by profession and holds a UEFA A license acquired in May 2005. During his coaching career he attended numerous courses, starting off in 1986, spending 10 years in the Youth sector. He was appointed Head Coach of various football nurseries in Malta, including Pieta’ Hostpurs FC, Birkirkara FC and Sliema Wanderers FC. He is also one of the coaches at Zazu Football School, and has been since its foundation in February 2005.
Vella was Second Division coach for a number of years, and was also Assisstant Coach in the First Division. He assisted Ray Farrugia at Pieta’ Hotspurs and Sliema Wanderers and was also one of the coaches at the Liverpool Academy in April 2004.
In addition, he is one of the main coaches for the Gary Neville School of Football.
The MFA is about to upgrade the Technical Centre and will invest in new methods and latest professional technology specifically designed to assist coaches and players in reaching optimal conditions for their international matches. In the pipeline there is the construction of a Sport Science Centre, together with other investments in video coverage and editing facilities, mental preparation and continued professional education for coaches and players.