Sixty candidates complete first Course in Football Administration

The first MFA Certificate in Football Administration course (CFA) came to a conclusion recently.

A total of 60 candidates successfully completed this course which encompassed a number of key areas related to football administration over a five-month period, culminating in the presentation of certificates which was held on the 22nd February, 2018 at the Corinthia Palace Hotel, San Anton.

Of these 60 participants, 28 also attended a complementary course focusing on nursery administration.

Norman Darmanin Demajo, the Malta FA President, congratulated the participants for their efforts and the great interest they showed during the courses.

“The dedication you showed during these courses is indeed commendable,” Darmanin Demajo said at the certificate-presentation event.

“You have done very well to obtain these certificates but the most important and challenging part is that you start implementing what you have learnt during these courses.”

While emphasising the importance of the administrator’s role in today’s fotball, Darmanin Demajo said the Malta FA is willing to introduce incentives aimed at encouraging clubs to engage the services of the MFA-recognised administrators.

“If there is anything you wish to discuss, feel free to come and speak to us,” Darmanin Demajo said.

“Our doors are always open.”

Dr Matthew Paris, the Malta FA Vice-President and Course Administrator, expressed his gratitude to the participants for their support and co-operation.

“This was not a one-off course,” Dr Paris said.

“It’s our intention to organise these kind of courses on a regular basis as this is essential for the progress of Maltese football.”

The modules covered during the CFA Course included the statute and regulations of the Malta Football Association, players’ registration procedures, club licensing and tax matters, finances, matchday operations, competitions, communications and media, marketing, football information systems, integrity and the relationship between the dressing room and the boardroom.

One of the sessions was conducted by Thierry Favre, UEFA’s Chief of National Associations Development who provided an insight into the work of UEFA.

Speaking on behalf of the course participants, Jurgen D’Amato said the need for a football administration course had long been felt.

While thanking the Malta FA for giving him and his colleagues the chance to follow this course, D’Amato urged all the football administrators to put their newly-acquired knowledge to practice and to have the courage to make hard decisions to safeguard the future of their clubs.

Photos: Copyright © domenic aquilina