MFA aims to bolster performance at academy

As part of its ongoing programme of reforms in the technical sector the Malta Football Association is planning to widen its Football Academy operations at its Technical Centre. The aim is to raise the level of commitment in performance and attendance both at its centre at Ta’ Qali and in the nurseries.

Presently the academy is catering for about forty young footballers in two categories, the Under 14s and the Under 15s, who regularly attend for training at the MFA Football School at the Technical Centre. As from this term onwards it has been decided to waive the annual subscription fee these young footballers were paying in order to train at Ta’ Qali. As a result, the number of youths attending as well as their input should be boosted.
Moreover, in the future a wider spectrum of young talented footballers will be invited to join other groups.

This will be done with the help of the MFA staff coaches who will be constantly scouting for quality young players during the competitions held by the Youth Football Association (YFA) as well as events held at all levels of the nurseries.

Commenting on this reform, the new MFA Technical Director, Robert Gatt, said that players who are invited and coached at the Football Academy will have to show constant improvement and commitment throughout. Unless they show this progress they will be replaced by other footballers.

He stressed that the MFA wants to create an ‘open centre’ by inviting the emerging element of promising young footballers. This is done through adequate scouting for new talent by the association’s staff coaches and their regular monitoring.