The appointment of the new national team coach will not be made lightly and this will be discussed all the way with everyone, MFA President Norman Darmanin Demajo said yesterday while addressing the MFA General Council during its monthly meeting.
Darmanin Demajo said that the general consensus was that a foreign coach ‘at the right price’ should be appointed eventually but all options were being kept open in this regard. He insisted that there was still time to take a decision as the next match involving the national team was only a friendly one against Liechenstein in February of next year while the next competitive match was in September 2012. He also voiced the possibility that a caretaker coach might be appointed for the friendly and that this could be a Maltese one.
The MFA President also revealed that a programme was currently in place to train prospective youngsters born in 1998 with these attending regular training sessions after school hours with the involvement of the MFA fitness instructor Luca Pagani who also had his contract renewed for another two years. Darmanin Demajo said that this programme would be expanded to other age groups if proved successful.
There was a heated discussion on the formation of a new Hamrun Spartans committee with several members objecting to this being appointed personally by the club president. The meeting also discussed several players wanting a release from Marsaxlokk FC including Malcolm Licari, Obinna Obifuele, Carlos Compagnoli, Julio Alcorse and Florent Raimy.
MFA CEO Bjorn Vassallo spoke at length about the changes being made to the ticketing system at grounds which was now in the second stage of implementation.
He also spoke about the 30th anniversary of the National Stadium which was due next year with several activities planned for this important anniversary.
Other matters discussed were various protests and appeals with a case involving the status of a physiotherapist and the protection afforded to him/her by the MFA sent back for a decision by the Executive Committee.