This was a dream come true for me, as some 12 years ago, together with Bonny Dingli and John Buġeja, I had negotiated on behalf of the Sliema Wanderers club with the then minister Francis Zammit Dimech. After hard negotiations, a responsible and forward looking agreement was reached, involving also the MIDI consortium.
We have today, albeit very late, a beautiful complex that we should be proud of. Ironically SWFC won major trophies during its absence from Tigné, but the nursery suffered considerable losses. The nursery will now start to gain ground again; once children and parents alike see what has been invested for them, right in the heart of Sliema.
Leaving children there to train – a stone’s throw away from the centre – could become enjoyable, rather than a parent-taxi situation burden, as was the case.
The aim of the complex is to be home to as many sports disciplines as it can. The sheer space that is available, the multi-purpose rooms, halls, indoor and outdoor facilities make this a special and unique place. Many persons have worked for the project to succeed. History needs to be read once again, to see the first stone being laid by Ġużi Fava and his foresight in having a nursery to replace the famous Sliema Sports Association leagues we had, and participated in, during our younger days. I, for one, was a San Ġiljan player at the outset, only to be taken by Johnny Zammit in his light blue Mini to Sliema Young Boys. Ġużi had the foresight; and his bust was rightly placed in centre stage on opening day.
The complex is aptly named Tigné sports complex, as it was previously known; avoiding any disputes which might arise when one names places after helpers, or changes names to suit personal needs. God forbid if we had to continue having street names changed, new benches or new trees named after canvassers. It can reach farcical proportions. We already have a situation where trees are used, elsewhere, for personal propaganda under the guise of care.
Sliema can look forward to an exciting future, with a structure that will be useful to the community and to young people, giving the same youths the moral fibre and the upbringing in life that makes gentlemen out of youngsters.
The assistance of many people was so essential in this project. There are too many people to mention individually. Nothing happens in a club like Sliema Wanderers on its own, or because of one person. Being a team player is important – seeing the bigger picture, helping out, and not taking the role of a protagonist is vital. In my years, I did exactly that. I do recall asking for assistance from different people, even across the political divide, across the band clubs’ divide, across the different zones in Sliema, and I obtained it. I only had received one negative letter – which I kept – from an important person, stating that he wanted to form part of SWFC, but wrote down that such help was to be provided as long as there will be no personal financial contribution. But this person was always present for the club’s successes, even presenting, one time, an empty CD in a closed envelope.
Sport, in order to develop, needs people who can put their heart in it, and probably stay in the background. The dedication of the person is important. I see so many dedicated persons in sport; people who leave their families and forfeit their spare time to organise, and to be there with the youths, to oversee their growth, and be there at all times even when the squad loses a match, and maybe even not take the limelight in success.
These are formidable people, and here I wish the best of luck to Steve Abela, president of Sliema Wanderers, and his team, to continue expanding on this project that will reap concrete benefits to the people of Sliema and the Sliema district at large.
A last thought to the events unfolding in these days. The turmoil in the nearby Arab world is disturbing news for us. I compare this to what happened in the former Eastern European states, which, one after another, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, wanted to change their lives. The Arab world is very close to us. Only a small sea separates us, and it is not healthy that we have an unstable situation in the region. Let’s hope that all this will be sorted out in the least possible time, and we can all look forward to a peaceful region once again.
The daily news coming out of the region can start affecting us Maltese in various sectors; in exports, employment, investments and contracts. The government is closely monitoring the situation, and helping out, within its limits, due to the scarce reliable news that is available.
The price of oil has risen as a direct consequence of what is happening and, once again, we can see its effect on Malta. These events have tended to overshadow the divorce debate that has kicked off in parliament.
The debate in Malta on divorce is at full swing at the moment. I do augur that the debate will be based on our personal conscience and heartfelt feelings, and not political gain or loss. This is probably the most important decision that we are about to take as a nation. It dwarfs the one we took on Europe some years back. All the time must be taken to discuss the issue for the benefit of our people. Ultimately we are duty bound to give Malta and its people the best way forward, as always was done, by a Nationalist government.
Robert Arrigo is a parliamentary assistant in the Finance Ministry