Youth FA votes to ensure free movement of young players without restrictions

Delegates at the Annual General Meeting of the Youth Football Association voted in favour of a motion to enable young players to move freely from one nursery to another without any restrictions.

In his opening speech, YFA President Fr Hilary Tagliaferro spoke about the importance of this motion as this would also ensure that more players are retained in the game. He said that we cannot afford to lose players, who quit the game due to not being allowed to move on and to look at the bigger picture for the good of the game and the players.

MFA President Norman Darmanin Demajo applauded all those involved in the football grassroots and passionately appealed to the delegates to vote in favour of this motion, in order to retain more players in the game.  The motion was approved by the vast majority of the nurseries delegates, and now the YFA will discuss in detail with the MFA the way forward and the modifications required in the rules and regulations, before being presented to the MFA Council for approval.

Meanwhile the Youth FA president said that this was the first time ever for the association to be without a main sponsor and considering that expenses were increasing every season it was imperative that an alternative be found as soon as possible.  Fr. Hilary concluded his speech by complimenting all those involved in preparing and answering the questionnaire commissioned to all member nurseries in order to warrant a better future and more co-operation with the parent clubs.

YFA General Secretary Joe Micallef complimented the nurseries administrators for making good use of the insurance launched this year covering the players and technical staff.  After evaluating other offers, the YFA decided to team up again with Melita Unipol for next season, where there will be added benefits, including insurance cover when playing anywhere in Europe and not just locally. 

Micallef concluded his intervention by announcing the Most Promising Players Awards – Kurt Briffa (U15 – Pieta) and Jean Paul Attard (U17 – San Gwann), along with the Play Fair Awards – Siggiewi (U15) and Mtarfa (U17).

The YFA officials were uncontested and approved unanimously by the delegates, and therefore Fr. Hilary Tagliaferro (President), Joe Cassar and Robert Attard (Vice-Presidents), Joe Micallef (General Secretary) and Alfred Cacciottolo (Hon. Treasurer) will continue to serve for another term.  The five members elected on the YFA Council to represent the nurseries are: Godwin Aquilina (Sta. Venera), Joe Baldacchino (Zabbar), Stephanie Fenech (Zejtun), Simon Spiteri (Mtarfa) and Paul Vella (Mgarr).

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