The Malta FA convened its Ordinary General Assembly today at Centenary Hall, where the main point on the agenda was the transition between the current strategy 2021-2024 and the next one which will trace the direction of the Association for the next 4 years. A comprehensive overview of significant achievements was presented to members together with information on the process leading to the formulation of the upcoming strategic document. The General Assembly also served as a platform to emphasise the future priorities for the Association, particularly consolidation of what has been achieved and the need to pursue sustainability while ensuring the sport’s continued growth and development at all levels.
President Bjorn Vassallo expressed his satisfaction at the level of implementation of the current strategy ‘We Can Perform Better’, which was the first of its kind for the Association:“When I look at the objectives set at the start, which at the time seemed quite ambitious, I am proud of what we managed to achieve throughout this cycle. It leaves me hopeful that we are in a good place to consolidate and grow further through our next strategic plan”.
The strategy emphasised the strengthening of the technical aspects of the Association’s setup as well as its governance structure and processes.
Internal and external consultation will be taking place in the coming months with a view to launching a new strategy in Q1 of 2025.
Progress in ongoing infrastructural projects
An overview of the ongoing infrastructural projects shows significant progress made in terms of the near completion of the new National Football Centre (NFC) in Ta’ Qali, which has a total estimated cost of €12.4 million and an estimated completion date set for Q3 2025. Construction of the Centre is practically completed.
At club level, the resurfacing of club pitches in 2024 continued at a steady pace with the completion of pitches in Pembroke, Ħamrun, Qormi, and Mġarr. This now brings the total number of resurfaced pitches to 16 since the start of this strategic period, thanks to the MoU in place with the government funding such projects. The resurfacing of pitches in Għargħur and Gzira are currently works in progress while others such as St Andrews, Vittoriosa and Kirkop are next in the pipeline.
Support to Member Associations
Completing another strategic objective, the Association announced the conclusion of a number of Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with 14 of its Member Associations. These agreements, which build on previous ones which expired this year, are designed to foster football development at recreational and non-league levels through an agreed sustainable model. The support package committed is estimated at €340,000 yearly for a total committed spend of over €1.3 million over 4 years. These amounts will sustain the beneficiary Member Associations in areas such as refereeing, lease of pitches, and the deployment of paramedics during matches.
This step underscores the Malta FA’s unwavering commitment to supporting and promoting football across all levels.
General Secretary steps down after 8 years in the role
During the Assembly, General Secretary Dr Angelo Chetcuti formally communicated to members his intention to step down from the role at the end of this calendar year. He had been in the role since December 2016.
The President thanked Dr Chetcuti and lauded his contribution throughout his tenure as he spearheaded numerous initiatives, including a drive towards digitisation particularly through the introduction of a football management system, as well as the implementation of several reforms and advancements in Maltese football. He was also instrumental in the successful bidding and hosting of the prestigious UEFA Under-19 European Championships held in Malta in 2023.
Concluding the meeting, the President informed members that a decision on the new General Secretary replacement will be taken at the next Executive Board meeting in December this year.
