The Malta FA on Tuesday afternoon held an event for media and sponsors at the National Football Centre in Ta’ Qali to kickstart the new year.
The occasion also served as one of the final celebratory events of the Malta FA’s 125th anniversary, a year that has been filled with events and initiatives. These include Street Football in the City, a 125th anniversary limited edition kit, football and futsal festivals, as well as the Malta FA Jubilee Cup, a competition that came to a close last month.
Through Tuesday’s event, media and sponsors had the opportunity to take a closer look at the new NFC, which was officially inaugurated last September.
NATIONAL FOOTBALL CENTRE
The NFC is a newly constructed centre that will offer several facilities, including a 400-seater, Category 1 stadium compliant with UEFA requirements, a medical and sports science area, a relaxation zone for players, an administrative area, conference facilities, eatery, and more.
The stadium has already hosted a series of matches, including UEFA Euro WU17 and WU19 Qualifiers, as well as international friendly matches.
The centre has facilities that are fully equipped to serve as the hub for the work of the technical sector, allowed the Malta FA Technical Centre’s operations and all logistics of the national teams to be relocated to the new building.
The project was made possible through funding from the Government of Malta, the National Development and Social Fund, Malta Development Bank, Project Green, and UEFA Sustainable Infrastructure.
The centre embodies the Malta FA’s vision of strengthening its long-term investment in Maltese football through a strong and sustainable foundation across all levels of the game. The NFC brings the idea to life through state-of-the-art facilities, inspiring environments, and opportunities that support player development, coaching, inclusivity, and the growth of the game, both locally and internationally.
Commenting on the project, Malta FA President Bjorn Vassallo stated that the NFC will not only provide the highest level of sport services, sport science, and a Category 1 stadium, but it also carries social value in education, performance, the economy, and health.
“I also have to mention the importance of sports tourism, which will likewise benefit from this state-of-the-art facility and which will begin welcoming the first foreign teams for training camps in Malta in the coming days. This is an investment not only in football, but also in the country as a whole,” Mr Vassallo remarked.
He also emphasised the significant work that the Malta FA has done to modernise and transform different clubs’ facilities and to build regional stadiums, as part of its strategy, seeing it invest over €75 million over the past 15 years. He added that the next step is to enable member clubs to transform into private entities through corporate restructuring, allowing them to open themselves up to local and foreign investment, enhancing their status and increasing their opportunities.
“All this modernisation in recent years has led to the same enthusiasm with which we embarked on this journey 125 years ago, and the objective remains always to bring people closer to the game and to ensure that the game is accessible to everyone,” Mr Vassallo added.
The Malta FA President highlighted that the Malta FA will continue to do its utmost to present plans for a modernisation project of the National Stadium, while also working to provide further power and autonomy to member clubs, so that investment in the game remains constant.
Photo courtesy of Malta FA