Can you give us an overview of the club's history since its inception?

Swieqi Phoenix Volleyball was set up in 2012 as part of Phoenix Sports Club, which also includes Swieqi Phoenix Handball. It was during that year that I was asked by the club's president, Orlando Bonnici, to start putting together a volleyball nursery with a handful of girls who were interested in the sport, including my two daughters. Some 13 years down the road, our roll of honour includes 41 national senior and junior titles. Our first was an U15 national championship in season 2014/15. Since then we have won this title for eleven consecutive years, and the U17 and U19 leagues nine times each over the last ten years. At senior level, we have won the Superleague four times in the last six years, together with four consecutive editions of the Supercup, and three of the National Cup.

This year marks the eleventh anniversary since your first U15 title. To what do you owe the club's success, particularly with the nurseries?

First of all, let me just say that the nurseries are the bedrock of Phoenix Sports Club, and that the development of both volleyball and handball players is in our club's DNA. I think that at Swieqi Phoenix Volleyball, the fact that, in our early years, we dedicated all our efforts and investment exclusively towards the development of a strong nursery, paid early dividends, and laid the foundations for our success. Today, our nursery groups remain a foremost priority, while being part of our successful Superleague team has become an ambition for our younger players.

What is the coaching philosophy which has guided you during your career?

I learnt and practised my volleyball at two institutions which instilled me with strong sporting and life values; first at De La Salle College, where we were coached by Brother David Mizzi; and in my later years, with Aloysians Volleyball Club, under the guidance of Brother Louis Piccinino. Things have changed dramatically since those days (we're talking about the 1980s), and both young people and their parents face very different and possibly more complex realities. As a coach and Technical Director, my greatest personal challenge has been that of maintaining a balance between emphasising values such as discipline, resilience, accountability and desire to succeed - and understanding the realities of today's generation of young players, while maintaining a degree of empathy on a personal basis. In fact, getting to know our players better has become a progressively important part of my job. At the end of the day, however, our motto does say that we are 'Malta's Leading Volleyball Club', so high standards need to be kept for the good of the club and for those players who are committed to the game, and I am pretty uncompromising in that respect.

How would you describe your coaching methodology?

My reasoning is that any activity undertaken during in-season training has to be effected within the framework of a 'match situation', with the involvement of the whole group. All corrections are carried out during the particular exercise and serve as a learning moment for the group. A lot of emphasis is made on the team moving as one cohesive unit, and the girls learn how to support each other during a rally. We encourage the girls to communicate with each other and to constructively correct their teammates' mistakes, in order for them to improve collectively. Self-esteem and mutual respect are important in this respect, as it takes a lot for girls, in particular, to speak out, and to take in teammates' feedback. The ability to communicate clearly and effectively towards a common goal builds trust and confidence which will stay with the girls beyond the volleyball court.

What satisfaction do you derive from coaching?

My satisfaction comes from seeing images from past seasons, looking back to when our current players first joined the club, and seeing how much they have grown as players and young women. That is the real reward for any coach.