Local clubs will receive €489,000 between them in UEFA solidarity payments this year. Dr Angelo Chetcuti, the Malta FA General Secretary, announced the global amount at a meeting of the Association's Council, held yesterday.

Dr Chetcuti stressed that these solidarity payments, which are allocated to the European member associations whose clubs don't advance to the group stages of the UEFA club competitions, are earmarked solely for youth development.

These payments are usually handed out to the clubs in January.

 Also during the meeting, Norman Darmanin Demajo, the Malta FA President, gave an update on the work of the MFA support network for young foreign-based players.

 This network has been set up by the Malta FA with the aim of easing the difficulties faced by young Maltese players when joining foreign clubs.

 "We are currently helping three young players, one male and two females, and all three of them are not only motivated to make it but also have the 100 per cent support of their parents...this makes a massive difference," Darmanin Demajo said.

 "These players are Romario Camilleri, who is with Italian club Gubbio, Nicole Sciberras, who has joined one of the women's teams in Rome, and Maria Farrugia, who is with Sunderland in England."

 Darmanin Demajo also said that the Malta FA will be looking to initiate discussions with BOV Premier League clubs to introduce a weekly training session for Maltese players who are in the plans of national coach Tom Saintfiet.

 Saintfiet, who succeeded Pietro Ghedin as Malta coach last month, is willing to introduce this session and Darmanin Demajo said he believes that this is doable as it's also in the clubs' interest to have their players trained and monitored by the national coach and his technical staff at least once a week.

The MFA President said that Saintfiet is also willing to organise periodical training sessions for Gozitan players who might have the potential to be included in the national squad.