The qualifying matches for the forthcoming Brazil World Cup next year are now all part of history of this fascinating sport discipline but for us Maltese they have turned once again into a dreadful nightmare. As usual we finished last in Group B with only three points in our favour. As usual we have only one win and three points out of ten matches. This is only better than what Faroe Islands, Andorra , Liechtenstein and San Marino managed to garnish in their respective groups. But this surely is no consolation for all the efforts being made by the MFA to improve international results. We were in the doldrums since we started playing in the international sphere and sixty years after, we are still roaming in the same doldrums. We have not improved one iota since then, despite the many different coaches from various countries that came over telling us that we need to change our mentality. It’s not only mentality that we need to change, but many other aspects of the local game.

Our poor performances are all the result of a very poor local competition. Our local league is not producing the right ingredients to have players that can produce the necessary skills to make them capable to confront foreign opponents. Foreign players engaged by local clubs are not helping to improve our opaque system of play.  Ours is ‘walking football’ compared to that played elsewhere. Naturally this is seen in many matches we play where our players struggle to keep up with what they encounter especially abroad. Despite all the good intentions and determination, our players lack the fundamentals seen in our rivals. Fluke results many times betray our real potential and eludes expectations. Our limitations are very evident even when our ‘elite’ clubs play in UEFA competitions, where very rarely do we obtain decent results.

Where do we go from here? Not very far, unless our local competitions are of a higher level. Twelve teams in our Premier League are too many and quantity is definitely beating quality. Instead of too many foreign players who are not much better than any local product, they should be reduced and instead we obtain fewer foreigners who are heads and shoulders above our talent who can enhance our poor standard of play. Club coaches should have greater knowledge of the game as many who are in charge at present have a very poor CV and coaching experience. At present very few, if any local player is good enough to attract foreign clubs. So everything depends on improving our local game. Ours is too monotonous and it lacks flair. One last word to our national coaches. We know that you are giving your all with all your available talent, but for goodness sake be cautious when you give your pre match comments. Sometimes you raise very high hopes which later turn to be a false illusion. Supporters know our limitations, they watch and know what’s going on outside our shores. They don’t expect miracles but they expect full commitment and maximum determination to obtain the best results possible.

Henry Calleja

St Julian’s