The twinning agreement between the Millennium Chapel and the Youth FA was launched on Monday 29th December in what was a beautiful and historic occasion which opened the door for social projects, from which our local football nurseries can benefit, with the collaboration with the Millennium Chapel Foundation.

The nurseries can benefit through the voluntary assistance from foreign students in our country on EU programs such as Leonardo, as well as specialised IT lessons and experiences within the WOW experience with conferences and talks on the formation of good character. Our football nurseries are duty bound to appreciate the person and individual, in each player, and not to be treated as a number for the short sighted aim of winning at all costs.

Fr Hilary’s message was clear, the administrators must be serious and act in good faith for the benefit of their nursery, the good of the game and all the young players in their care. In his message to the young players present, Fr.Hilary reminded them that a footballer can be a good player without overriding good values, and manages to be successful, in his education and character as well.

H.E. President Emeritus Dr. George Abela, expressed his attachment to grassroots football and reminded how he was one of the founders of the Association over thirty years ago. Dr. Abela stressed that while only teamwork will enable the players, coaches and administrators to achieve success, this should not to be to the detriment of good values, which unfortunately are being put aside in today’s world

Also present for this event were the YFA Councillors, several players’ parents, as well as the MFA Secretary General, Mr. Bjorn Vassallo and Mr Robert Gatt, Technical Director of the Technical Centre in Ta’ Qali who they also had words of praise for this project.

The first to benefit from this twinning will be those nurseries who were present for the launch namely, Pietà Hotspurs, Hamrun Spartans, Lija-Iklin, Mtarfa, Ghaxaq, Dingli Swallows, Paola Hibs, Pembroke Athleta, Safi, St. Andrews and Zebbug Rangers.