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48 Sport maltatoday, SUNDAY, 16 JULY 2017 FOOTBALL 2017 MFA Annual General Meeting MFA President lays out six-year plan NORMAN Darmanin Demajo, the Malta FA President, spelt out the Association's 'future goals' for the next six-year cycle in his closing speech at the 2017 Annual Gen- eral Meeting, held yesterday at the Grand Hotel Excelsior. The construction of a second Na- tional School of Sports dedicated solely to football, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, is among the key projects on the Malta FA's agenda for the next six years. The other future targets include a review of the 'amateur' and 'grass- roots' football, including futsal and women's football, the creation of a support unit to help young football- ers overcome the initial difficulties when joining a foreign club, train- ing for club administrators, five new projects at Ta' Qali, including the relocation of the MFA Techni- cal Centre and the construction of a compact stadium in the MFA train- ing grounds. "For an organisation like the MFA, it is important that we always have a 'purpose' – a point in the future – an agreed objective, towards which we can all work," Darmanin Demajo said. "In business this is referred to as a strategic plan – in simple language, this is merely an exercise which asks the question: "Where would we like to be in five or six years' time?" "I think that one of my main du- ties, as President of the MFA, is to set the agenda for this plan, and I would therefore like to share with you what I believe should be some of our future goals – what we need to focus on in the future – both in the immediate/short term as well as in the longer term." Darmanin Demajo stressed that the Malta FA was always striving to strengthen its administration and human resources. "If you want to succeed, you need to recruit the best people in their re- spective fields – and then let them loose, and let them work," Darma- nin Demajo said. "By 'best people' I don't only mean people who are talented in their field, but more important, people who are passionate about football, internally motivated, and ready to be part of the MFA team that we have brought together – to be of service to Maltese football." At the start of the AGM, Darma- nin Demajo congratulated the Mal- tese clubs for their performances in the UEFA competitions. He also revealed that discussions between the Malta FA and a com- pany over a sponsorship deal for the FA Trophy are at a very advanced stage. China authorities enjoy success in bid to curb spending WHEN the Chinese Super League summer transfer window closed at midnight on Friday, the country's authorities could feel quietly satis- fied and declare their mission to cool the hyper-inflated player mar- ket a success. Previous windows had seen the Asian transfer record shattered three times in 18 months and while Anthony Modeste's move from Co- logne to Tianjin Quanjian was the most expensive, it was for a fee far short of the highest paid in China. The French forward's transfer to Fabio Cannavaro's side was com- pleted for a reported 35 million euros ($40.13 million), nowhere near the 60 million euros Shang- hai SIPG parted with to sign Oscar from Chelsea in January. The big-money signings and high wages were threatening to spiral out of control, and when Hebei CFFC paid Beijing Guoan 20 million euros for local defender Zhang Chengdong, the authorities stepped in to calm rampant over- spending. Hastily-arranged regulations im- plemented on June 14 saw football authorities impose a 100 percent levy on foreign signings of more than 40 million yuan ($5.90 mil- lion), leaving clubs uncertain of how to tackle the altered landscape. Speculation that had raged for months linking high-profile strik- ers such as Diego Costa and Pierre- Emerick Aubameyang with moves to the Chinese Super League on deals worth more than 100 million euros shuddered to a halt almost overnight. For several weeks, Pei Shuai's transfer from Changchun Yatai to Tianjin Quanjian was the most significant of the window, the 24-year-old having played just once for the national team when Mar- cello Lippi called him up during January's China Cup. As deadline day crept ever closer, it seemed only minor deals would be completed as teams took a cau- tious approach given the scrutiny of the authorities. Indeed, the sharpest focus cen- tred on the future of Guangzhou Evergrande's Paulinho, the league's standout player so far this season, who has been the subject of an ap- proach by Barcelona. The Spanish side are likely to test Guangzhou's resolve again after two failed bids and a refusal to do business before Friday meant the six-time champions would be un- able to sign a replacement should the 28-year-old eventually depart. Guangzhou have, however, wel- comed back striker Muriqui, who was instrumental in the club's ini- tial rise from China's second divi- sion to becoming Asian champi- ons, with the 31-year-old inking a six-month contract for the league leaders. Muriqui joined as a free agent after cancelling his contract with Vasco da Gama in a move that could become a precursor for more deals in the future as Chinese au- thorities continue their quest to regulate a market that was once close to unmanageable. Anthony Modeste's move from Cologne to Tianjin Quanjian was the most expensive, it was for a fee far short of the highest paid in China John Terry named Aston Villa captain JOHN Terry has been con- firmed as the new captain of Aston Villa. The 36-year-old former Eng- land and Chelsea skipper takes the armband from James Ches- ter, and wore it for the first time yesterday in a friendly at Shrewsbury. Villa said in a tweet: "John Terry confirmed as captain – and will wear the armband for the first time today against @ ShrewsWeb." Terry joined the Champion- ship club earlier this month, signing a one-year deal with Steve Bruce's team. The an- nouncement of his signing, via a mocked-up WhatsApp chat featuring owner Dr Tony Xia, included the phrase "Captain. Leader. VILLAN" - playing on Chelsea fans' description of Terry as "Captain, Leader, Legend". Australia to play 'pivotal' World Cup qualifier in Melbourne AUSTRALIA'S crucial final World Cup qualifying match against Thailand on Sept. 5 has been confirmed for Melbourne's Rectangular Stadium, Football Federation Australia said yester- day. The Socceroos are currently third in Asian Group B for the finals next year in Russia on 16 points, one behind leaders Ja- pan and on the same points as second-placed Saudi Arabia, who have a better goal difference. The top two sides in each of the two groups in the third round of Asia qualifying will advance di- rectly to the finals in Russia. The two third placed teams then play each other for a spot in an inter- continental playoff. Ange Postecoglou's side, whose penultimate match is against Ja- pan in Saitama on Aug. 31, are likely to have to beat the winless Thais, and comfortably, in Mel- bourne to seal one of the auto- matic qualifying places. "Its definitely crunch time in the qualification campaign and this match against Thailand will be pivotal," FFA chief executive David Gallop said in a statement on Saturday. "This match could very well be one of those 'where were you?' moments. "Ange and his team have been preparing for this mo- ment for the past two and a half years and we encourage all sports fans to support the boys as they look to secure direct qualification to the 2018 FIFA World Cup." Saudi Arabia play their penul- timate match against the United Arab Emirates in Al Ain be- fore they host Japan in Jeddah on Sept. 5. Norman Darmanin Demajo (left) emphasised the need for a strategic plan