Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1170309
19 LETTERS & EDITORIAL maltatoday | SUNDAY • 22 SEPTEMBER 2019 Mikiel Galea Letters & Clarifications Match made in heaven UNDOUBTEDLY, VisitMalta's tie-up with Manchester United marks an- other milestone in the special relation- ship between the Maltese islands and the most supported football club in the world. It is somewhat impossible to say with precision how long after a hum- ble football team formed in Newton Heath in 1878 gained the first Maltese supporters. Yet, we can positively state that in February 1959 – one year after the Munich tragedy – the Manchester United Supporters' Club Malta was founded, obtaining official recognition from Old Trafford as the oldest Man- chester United Supporters Club in the World. What started off as a gathering of a few scores of Maltese red devils' sup- porters led by Mr John Calleja panned out into a veritable watershed mo- ment. In a few short years the Maltese fan base numbers had literally explod- ed, arguably making MUFC the best supported football club in Malta. And that was just the beginning! A bond be- tween Malta and United was formed, which has grown from strength to strength over these past 60 years. The loyal support extended by Mal- tese supporters for over six decades has been consistently well rewarded by the Sir Matt Busby Way football club. The first team squad has been hosted in Malta some four times; each and every major trophy won was flown over; and hardly a year goes by without a current first team star, official or a club legend paying an official visit. This, not to mention the thousands of Manchester United fans from across the world who already choose the Maltese Islands as their holiday desti- nation, specifically to underline their beloved football club's connection with the Mediterranean archipelago. Surely, the new partnership between VisitMalta and MUFC will take the unique friendship between Malta and United to yet another level. Jean Paul Attard, Mosta Final hours before delivery DEATH and taxes are not the only cer- tainties one encounters in a lifetime. There are also earthquakes, droughts, fake news, tornadoes… each sunrise seems to bring reasons to ex- pect some terrifying calamity to men- ace our very existence. All these are the beginning of birth pains. The universe is passing through the final hours before delivery because nature is a pregnant creation. Painful contractions are in the forecast but the Bible also proclaims Christ's warning and recommendation, clearly and un- equivocally: "See to it that you are not alarmed". When ecological catastrophes domi- nate the day, don't let them disturb you. Just take heart. Matt24:6-8. Where there is destruction there can be a new beginning, where there is pain there can be joy, where there is sacrificial death there is always a resur- rection. The greatest tragedy in his- tory, the death of Christ on the cross resulted in the best thing that could happen, the opening of heaven to hu- man beings. But this too difficult for a cynic to understand. "Be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life" Rev.2:10. Mr John Guillaumier might scoff at all this but I always write in the light of faith. "There's no faith where is no persuasion on that which cannot be seen" – St George Preca. That is the missing link because God's existence has always troubled him while this is unnecessary and unwarranted worry. John Azzopardi, Żabbar