Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/931337
maltatoday WEDNESDAY 24 JANUARY 2018 21 WITH the National League on a stop, all the attention was turned towards the last Premier League Qualifier. With only one vacant place to complete this season line- up, Godfrey Abela clinched the final place after beating- Gordon Stanmore in the fi- nal with the score of 3-0. Now that the Premier League line-up is set, against what happened last season where all the players came from only two different clubs, this year we will be seeing the ten players repre- senting five different clubs. The players will be compet- ing on a nine-week round Robin starting as of Wednes- day 31st January 2018. All matches will be live streamed on the Malta Darts Association official YouTube channel. The Players that will be competing in the 2017/18 Malta Premier League Of Darts are: Norbert Attard (Winner Premier League 2016/17), Al- bert Scerri (Finalist Premier League 2016/17) John Agius u Godfrey Abela (Semi Final- ist Premier League 2016/17), John Ciantar (Participat- ed in the Premier League 2016/17), Kirsten Aquilina, Andy Keen, Mario Aquilina, George Ebejer u Chris Cohen (first appearance in the Pre- mier League) Premier League – Day 1 (31/1/2018) Norbert Attard Vs John Ci- antar; George Ebejer vs John Agius; Andy Keen vs Kirsten Aquilina; Godfrey Abela vs Mario Aquilina; Albert Scer- ri vs Chris Cohen 4-a-side Competition Preliminary Round (23/1/2018 and 30/1/2018) Kalkara St.Joseph BC vs Mosta Horseshoe Bar B; Cospicua Rangers vs Mosta Horseshoe Bar C; Senglea Manchester Conquest vs Sta. Venera Red Square Sport DARTS MOTORSPORTS Godfrey Abela last player to qualify for the Premier League Godfrey Abela MMF setting the bar to reach international standards THE Malta Motorsport Fed- eration (MMF), with the help of MSA UK, ACI Sport Italia, SportMalta, EUPA and the FIA, have put together various train- ing programs and exchanges for drivers and officials alike since 2011. These programs and ex- changes were aimed to promote the best practice of the sport and guide the Federation, to under- stand better the obligations of being recognised as the National Sporting Authority (ASN) for motorsport for the Maltese is- lands. As Motorsport continues to grow on a worldwide scale, the FIA felt the need to remind all ASNs to follow the proper guidelines when it comes to In- ternational event participation, more specifically to highlight an important matter related to the issuing of the FIA International Drivers' licence. In this regard, the FIA President, Jean Todt has recently sent a letter to all ASNs reminding them to strictly fol- low, without further delay or procrastination, the FIA Inter- national Sporting Code (Code) which is the complete guideline, to take Competitors, drivers and officials from Karting to F1. The FIA has also warned ASNs that it intends to take a more ac- tive role in policing the issuing of FIA International Drivers' Licences. In this regard, the Fed- eration, together with its Active Council, formed by a representa- tive from each affiliated member club, has reviewed the Code and unanimously agreed, that as an affiliated member with the FIA, the Federation is obliged to fol- low the FIA International Sport- ing Code (Code) completely, irrespective of how small our country is or how limited our re- sources are. In this light, the Federation, with immediate effect, will is- sue the FIA International Driv- ers' Licence to drivers who fully comprehend the requirements and obligations in accordance to the Code. The salient require- ments, for a driver to be eligible for a FIA International Drivers' licence are the following; 1. Be fully aware of the obliga- tions within the International Sporting Code. 2. Have the necessary experience in motorsport to apply for a spe- cific grading. 3. Have the necessary experience for the class you wish to compete in. 4. Not participate in competi- tions that are NOT sanctioned / approved by the ASN of that country. 5. Have passed the necessary medical certifications 6. Be in possession of the FIA Anti-Doping Race True certifi- cate. This also means that any per- son who shall be promoting, en- dorsing or competing in events that are not approved by the ASN of that country shall have their FIA International Drivers' Licence revoked and / or applica- tion for the licence declined, as the case may be. In line with the issuing of FIA International Drivers' Licences, which is governed by Chapter 1 of Appendix L of the Interna- tional Sporting Code, the MMF has setup a Licensing Commis- sion made up of Vice President William England and General Secretary Oliver Attard. It shall be their joint duty to review and accept all the FIA International Driver license applications, and, where in doubt will refer to the Administrative Council. The MMF is confident that our FIA International Drivers' Licence holders understand the importance of being at par with our foreign counterparts where- by we follow the same rules, without bringing the sport, themselves and their country into disrepute. For further information or clar- ifications, please send queries to info@maltamotorsport.org