In his introduction at the Youth FA AGM for the 2012/13 season, the president, Fr. Hilary Tagliaferro, praised the ongoing progress both in the Association itself as well as in almost all the nurseries, and welcomed Swieqi United to the YFA family. He continued that the Association will be pushing for the registration age of the players to be increased, as well as the introduction of a football passport which will include all the players’ data.

Fr. Hilary praised the work of all the volunteers in the youth football sector and reminded them that this is not just a service to the beautiful game, but to society in general, helping the kids to lead a more healthy life-style. The Youth FA President commended the example of Cottonera United, which saw the nurseries from the three cities amalgamate into one, and after a difficult debut last season, their Under-15 and Under-17 won their respective sections this season.

The Youth FA General Secretary, Joe Micallef gave a detailed report on the 2012-2013 season which included almost 750 matches in the Under-15 and Under-17 APS leagues, apart from the Under-13 Inhobb il-Futbol Events, the Gatorade Under-13 and Under-11 and the Panini Under-9 festivals.

Mr Micallef reminded that the 2013/14 season will see the start of a new format for both the leagues and the knock-out competitions, as well as a reform at the Under-11 festivals. The General Secretary went on to announce the winner of the Most Promising Youngster, Under-17 Jurgen Degabriele (Paola Hibs), runner up Karl Micallef (Pieta H.) and Under-15 Aiden Friggieri (Sliema W.), runner-up Matthew Guillaumier (St. Andrew), while the APS Play Fair Awards went to Sirens (Under-17) and Fgura, Mgarr and Sirens (Under-15).

The five Council members representing the nurseries as elected during the AGM resulted as follows: – Godwin Aquilina (Sta. Venera), Mario De Battista (St. Andrews), Charles Cassar (Rabat), Mark Bondin (Mqabba) and Charles Farrugia (Floriana). The minutes from last season’s AGM, as well as the Administrative and Financial reports were all approved. The neutral members, observers and the members of the various boards and committees will be announced after the first YFA Council meeting in the coming days.

Fr. Hilary Tagliaferro thanked all the affiliated nurseries, the Malta FA and the sponsors, especially the main sponsors APS and the newest sponsor, Liquigas Malta, and his fellow council members for their support. He concluded the AGM by reminding that for the first time ever, Malta will be hosting an official UEFA Final, the Under-17 Euro Championships in May 2014.

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