The training grounds at the Malta FA Complex in Ta’ Qali were inaugurated by UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin and MFA President Bjorn Vassallo, in the presence of Director of National Associations Zoran Lakovic on Wednesday.

The renovation of the training grounds is part of the investment in capital projects the Malta Football Association has embarked on to improve football infrastructure.

Works on the training grounds, which were built in the 1980s, included the removal of existing pitch profile and the installation of a new natural turf surface and an automatic irrigation system. The project was worth €2 million.

Complementing this project will be the building of the new technical centre, which is being called the Malta National Football Centre, which will include a Category 1 stadium which will also be used as one of the venues for the UEFA Under-19 Championship finals which will be held in Malta in 2023. This project is being co-financed by the Association and the Government of Malta.

In a short speech, MFA President Bjorn Vassallo thanked UEFA as without its assistance such projects would not be possible.

Meanwhile during his short visit, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin paid a courtesy visit to Prime Minister Dr Robert Abela at the Auberge de Castille.

The discussion with the Prime Minister focused on the joint-efforts of the Maltese government and the Malta FA to renovate the local footballing infrastructure, both at national and club level, the preparations for the 2023 UEFA Under-19 Championship, to be held in Malta, and further opportunities to host other important UEFA events in the near future.

Ceferin later attended the match Malta vs Cyprus.