Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1006805
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 22 JULY 2018 28 MALTA FA president Norman Darmanin Demajo reiterated the importance to serve the lo- cal clubs and Maltese football in general during his closing speech at the 2018 MFA annual general meeting. Addressing questions about his intentions beyond 2019, when his third term at the helm of the Malta FA runs out, Darmanin Demajo appealed to the clubs to give him the guidance and assis- tance to make the best decisions in the interest of the Association. "There are many issues that need to be considered, and dur- ing the coming months I will find the time to sit down with you and your clubs, discuss with you, listen to what you think about this matter and any ideas that you may have," the Malta FA President said. "I'm confident that, after I do that, I will be in a better position to know what path to follow. "For the past eight years, I have supported you all as best as I could – the time has come when I now need your guid- ance, your support and assis- tance in helping me take the best decision in the best interest of our Association." Darmanin Demajo also spoke about the importance of stability and sustainability at club level. "One of the biggest challenges that world football is facing to- day, especially at club level, is the lack of stability that exists in the management and administration of the game, in all countries at all levels," he said. "You practically read about clubs going bust almost every day. I am very pleased to note, however, that based on the infor- mation that we have compiled, according to the accounts sub- mitted by the clubs for the year ended December 2017, the abso- lute majority of the second and third division clubs are now op- erating on a break-even or profit basis. "Fifty per cent of the First Di- vision clubs are now also on a break-event situation, while the Premier Division clubs are still mainly operating at a loss." Bjorn Vassallo, Director of Member Associations (Europe) at FIFA and Noel Mooney, Head National Associations' Business Development at UEFA, repre- sented the two international football bodies at the 2018 MFA AGM. MFA General Secretary outlines activities in 2017-18 Dr Angelo Chetcuti, gen- eral secretary of the Malta FA, summed up the activities of the Association over the past 12 months – his explanation at the well-attended 2018 Annual General Meeting backed by the Administative Report, a 76-page publication, and an eight-minute video highlighting the main pro- jects and acivities carried out by the Association last season. "When I addressed this AGM last year, I was new to this role as I had only been in this position for a few months," he said. "Another 12 months have flown by and I still feel the same as every day, you must deal with new situations which help to enhance your knowl- edge of Maltese football." Chetcuti thanked all the Mal- ta FA officials and staff in all the Association's departments for their commitment and ef- forts. Key Points From General Secretary's Speech • Malta-England match on September 1, 2017 and the intensive preparations linked to this event. • 60 participants complete first MFA Course in Football Ad- ministration, co-ordinated by Dr Matthew Paris, the Malta FA Vice-President. • Competitions – over 1,500 matches and the related lo- gistical work (venues, ref- erees, staff and disciplinary matters • Research on the direct and indirect impact football has on the Maltese economy – New academic project in partnership with UEFA. • Training camps by overseas teams generate 12,000 bed nights • Consolidation of the social responsibility initiatives un- der the Football For Life programme (including one aimed at partially-sighted and blind fans which was launched last season). • New initiatives aimed at per- sons who practise football for fun (five-a-side etc). • The introduction of the new football data management system – COMET, which will yield detailed and accu- rate data and statistics. • Positive discussions on the removal of the transfer pa- rameter system in prepara- tion for season 2019-2020. • Assistance programmes for clubs – Clubs' Adminis- trators Scheme, Facilities Grants Scheme, Under-21 Player Development Fund and Guaranteed Gate In- come Scheme. Financial incentives for clubs who field young players The Malta FA's unwavering drive to promote local talent and boost our national teams is being stepped up with the in- troduction of a new scheme en- titled the U-21 Player Develop- ment Fund. Starting from season 2018-19, local clubs will receive a solidari- ty payment for every young play- er aged under 21 years they field during a competitive match. Details of this exciting scheme were given by Malta FA Presi- dent Norman Darmanin De- majo during his closing speech at the 2018 Annual General Meeting, held on Saturday at the Grand Hotel Excelsior. "From the coming seasons, we will introduce a new scheme aimed at promoting and com- pensating those teams that make use of U-21 players who are eligible to play for our national teams," Darmanin Demajo told the assembly. In addition to the age require- ment (aged 21 and under), the player/s must be eligible to represent the Maltese national teams in international football and play for a minimum of 30 minutes in the match. The solidarity payments will be distributed as follows: Premier League €125 per match for every U-21 player that meets the stipulated criteria. The maximum amount a club can benefit from this scheme is €6,500 per season Division One €70 for every U-21 player per match, up to maximum of €3,600 per season. Division Two €60 for every U-21 player per match, up to maximum of €3,000 Division Three €50 for every U-21 player per match, up to maximum of €2,500 per season. The Malta FA has allocated a budget of €210,000 for this new scheme. The Malta FA President also introduced another new scheme – the Guaranteed In- come Scheme whereby the As- sociation will guarantee a fixed amount of gate income every season. "The idea is for the MFA to guarantee a minimum amount of gate money to all clubs in all divisions," Darmanin Demajo said. The proposed amounts are higher than what the clubs have been earning in the last few seasons. This new scheme, which is also intended to give the clubs a financial boost, is estimated to cost the Malta FA €175,000 for season 2018-19. With two other schemes launched a few months ago – the Facilities Grant Scheme and the Club Administra- tors Assistance Scheme, the Malta FA has set a budget of €760,000 for these assistance programmes. FOOTBALL SPORTS Photos: Domenic Aquilina/MFA Financial incentives for clubs dominate MFA annual general meeting