The St. Thomas More Fgura Primary School hosted Pierre Brincat, the women’s national team coach, Ylenia Carabott, a solid member of our national team who once was a student of the school together with youth coach Ernest Frendo.

During their morning stay, the three visitors carried out interesting training sessions for the schoolgirls which helped to further promote football among the young aspirants who dream to start a career in the game.

Photo: Copyright © Joe Borg

The Fgura school is a striking example of a unit which ranks among the most pro-active in encouraging girls to take up football while grooming their individual and team skills. In fact, the school is one of several which organises a girls’ league.

Brincat and Carabott addressed the schoolgirls, stressing the game’s attractiveness while also putting in the frame the progress and achievements, especially the recent ones, of the Malta national team when our girls qualified for the next stage of the FIFA 2014 World Cup competition.

Commenting on their school visit, coach Brincat said, “It was a fantastic experience both for me and Ylenia. We got a big welcome from the pupils, the school head and Robert Busuttil. Ylenia answered several questions put by the girls about her experiences in the national team. She and Ernest worked with the girls on the football pitch while I demonstrated through a presentation the work being done to promote the game. An enjoyable conclusion was the five-a-side inter-class matches which we followed with great interest.”

On her part, Ylenia remarked, “I really felt welcomed by the school. The girls were happy with our visit and everyone participated. I’m glad that I had the opportunity to visit the school where I grew up and where I started playing football. Seeing so many girls playing the game is exciting since in my days I was the only girl playing. Overall it was a satisfying visit and we look forward to coming back.”