Malta vs Italy heading for a sell-out

pc-malta-italy-fanparkJBAround four hundred tickets remain available for sale for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Italy in programme on Tuesday 26th March at the National Stadium. This was revealed by MFA Chief Executive Officer Bjorn Vassallo during a press conference at the National Stadium on Friday.

Vassallo said that tickets for the North Stand, South Stand and Millennium Stand were sold out and the only tickets still available for sale are for the West Stand.

The MFA CEO said the game against Italy will put Malta against the team which is ranked fifth in the world. He said this provides an excellent opportunity for the players and supporters to rise to the occasion. Despite our limits, the team still managed to obtain good results and positive performances which fill the Maltese with courage.

Photos: Copyright © Joe Borg / MFA

Bjorn Vassallo said the coach and the players have been working hard and the objective if that of going on the field of play and aiming at winning the respect of our opponents.

The game against Italy will be the first one to attract a full house at the National Stadium. For this reason, in order to avoid congestion, gates will open at 18:30. Access roads around the stadium will be closed from Monday 25th in the evening while the West Stand car park will be reserved for MFA guests. The association has also provided for parking arrangements for those persons who use a wheelchair and who have bought tickets for the match. These are to contact the MFA to acquire a parking permit. Everyone is to observe instructions which will be issued by Police authorities.

Out of the 805 tickets allocated for visiting fans in the West Stand A Upper, only four hundred were taken.

Fans are being reminded that while all areas in the West Stand are on an allocated seating basis, the Millennium, North and South Stands are on a first come first served basis.

Indicative signage and stadium stewards will be on site on match day to ensure the smooth orientation for those attending the match.
Those who bought tickets online need to ensure that each person should be in possession of a print-out to be presented at the turnstiles upon entrance to the stadium. In case of any difficulty, online buyers are requested to contact customer support line 27842538 or email tickets@mfa.com.mt

As usual, the police will conduct security checks and body searches on spectators outside the turnstiles to ensure that no objects and substances, which are likely to be used in acts of violence or fireworks, are brought into the stadium. persons under the influence of alcohol or drugs will not be allowed to enter the stadium. Flags and banners will not be permitted if attached to solid sticks.

Pre-match entertainment will start at 19:15 and will include the participation of Ivan Grech from Wintermoods and Tenishia. The compere will be Colin Fitz.

Meanwhile MFA Head of Marketing Norman Saliba gave more details regarding the Fan Park which will be set up on match-day at the MFCC, Ta’ Qali, starting at 16:00. Saliba explained that this fan park was a new concept which was meant to create an organised meeting area for national team fans in the vicinities of the National Stadium to replace the various pre-match gatherings which used to take place before national team matches.

The association hopes this fan park, which will be on a free entrance basis, will promote further the national team and help generate further enthusiasm among fans. At the same time, it provides the opportunity for sponsors to meet fans and promote their products and services.

Apart from the MFA main partners, namely FXDD and CISK Lager, other partners in this event are PBS Ltd, MFCC, South End Core, Pepsi and Vibe FM.

Activities on the stage and the big screen will be presented by Jonathan Abel and JD Patrick from Vibe FM and will include a live band performance by RUG (Gianni Zammit), highlights from previous matches, a live link with the arrival of the teams at the National Stadium, a live link with the dressing rooms and the teams’ warm-up, live interviews and the live match transmission.

Food and beverage stalls will be available.

National team and MFA sponsors together with other commercial entities will set up stalls from which they will be distributing promotional material and freebies and promote offers to national team fans. The MFA will also have its own stall from which national team merchandising will be sold.

The kids’ area will feature activities such as face painting, bouncing castle and bungie runs.

The MFA will be organising a photo competition with the aim of encouraging local fans to wear the national team colours for the game.

Fans can send in photos of themselves or in groups of not more than six persons taken at the Fan Park or outside the stadium wearing the red and white colours and other items related to the national team. Photos can be uploaded on the MFA portal through the MFA Official Facebook page within seven days from the match.

The association will then short-list a number of photos and will ask fans to vote for their favourite photo. Match tickets for home matches will be given as prizes.

Other speakers during the press conference were Michael Schembri from FXDD and Marco Debono from Simonds Farsons Cisk – the association’s two main sponsors.