Malta FA President Bjorn Vassallo said the association’s technical project is being reviewed in order to strengthen the national teams while important projects which will kick-off shortly are a reform at grassroots level and the regeneration project of Ta’ Qali.
Addressing the General Assembly on Wednesday, Vassallo said “The last few months have been months of intensive work for the Association … not everything has gone as planned, but in football you do your best and then you don’t have absolute control over the outcome, but if things are done with conviction and determination, even the results you want will come, if not immediately after a period of time they will.”
“I am expressing myself in this way because in the sporting area, although much good and progress has been made to date, not everything has yet been as successful as we would like. The March international window did not give us what we had been working for, but we did not give up, because we saw bravery and national unity from the sporting public and because we believe in our capabilities and those of our national teams. The results of the Men’s national team against Luxembourg when compared with what the team managed to do in the qualification for the World Cup a few months earlier, were certainly not satisfactory. But from September we will once again seek that promotion that we desire so much, convinced more than ever that this time we must be more decisive on the pitch to confirm the great good that has been done in recent years.”
“I am saying this with a sense of responsibility because from heroes in November where the team finished with a record of five points in the standings, for the second time in a few years under this administration, we ended up being criticized for the team’s performances that in the previous international window gave us so much pleasure. But constructive criticism does not bother us, on the contrary we welcome it and it strengthens us to continue to work together to achieve our objectives.”
“I want to remind you that we have come a long way, for the first time we did not finish last in the groups and that when one considers the statistics, in recent years we have had more than 30% of the results in the international field that ended with a positive result and this is prestigious especially when you consider two promotions in the women’s field and for the first time we have advanced to the qualifying round even in futsal. I have not come here before you to justify why I am as hurt as any fan that so far we have not managed to reach the men’s field but we cannot throw away the good work but we must use it to continue to consolidate and grow for the future.”
“It is a fact that in the last Executive Board meeting we spoke about a review of the technical project and so that where necessary revisions can be made, in fact in the coming months until June we will be analysing all of this and through the competent forums and departments we will reach decisions that will continue to strengthen the sporting and competitive position of our national teams including the presentation of the reform at the nursery level which was always planned to be carried out but to date has not yet been carried out.”
“In fact this is one of the few reforms that is still waiting because over the last few years we have been able to present and implement very important reforms especially in governance, which reforms have led us to establish the Malta Football Association as one of the most equipped associations in the world in the regulatory framework mainly in the accounting and transparency necessary to run an organisation like the MFA.”
“Among the latest achievements in recent days we have had the confirmation of a draft law on the privatization of football clubs. An opportunity for the model that has always been in operation to be extended in a way that investors continue to invest in Maltese football thanks to a framework that makes sense for today’s times and for what the game can offer. This is not only an important step for the clubs to become commercially viable, but also for the clubs to attract new investment and increase sustainability. These are all innovations in our football that will surely have a positive effect over time. These strategic aspects should not be ignored because through such models we can continue to grow the football economy in our country and offer a comprehensive and transformative technical product.”
“During the season I always receive phone calls, messages and videos about the officials and the way they controlled and decided the episodes in the matches. I reiterate that the MFA invests in putting officials in the best mental, physical and technical condition, but we cannot give any more guarantees than that, except that we decide to help our officials through technology, an aspect that was introduced from this season and which is helping to make the game fairer so that everyone gets what they deserve. The goal is that we continue to invest to cover more matches during the season and although the controversies are difficult to resolve, through technology we continue to shape the future of the game.”
“At grassroots level, the goal is to continue with education and professional learning so that development does not decrease, but even here there is no guarantee that mistakes will not be made, just as we, your administrators, players and coaches, make them. What I can assure you is that there are internal processes that evaluate every match, every performance, every episode and without going into the merits of any decision, I can assure you that we follow international protocols with diligence and transparency.”
“From an infrastructure perspective, a great deal of work has certainly been done under this administration. The legacy is beginning to be felt because the investment in the infrastructure of member clubs through regional stadiums and artificial turf across Malta and Gozo, has not stopped throughout the years that I have been involved in the Association. We have modernised, but not only that, we have built a beautiful National Football Centre without putting a burden on the Association and its finances. We managed to do this thanks to wisdom and entrepreneurship, a building that will be valuable both for Maltese football but also from where we continue to bring in income through sports tourism which money will go back into investment in the football eco-system. And for this I would like to thank the Central Government that firmly believes in the vision of the MFA and in the mission of football.”
“But now the time has also come to not only talk but to prepare and start a new project. You have just seen what we are planning for Ta’ Qali, a dream that every sports fan has, that of having a new national stadium that will serve sports functions but not only. A high-level complex that can host domestic and international matches but also that offers an experience to fans and the sports public. As we have carried out many projects that seemed ambitious and successful, we will do the same for this project and thus everything that I promised in 2019 upon the appointment of president will have been fulfilled almost in its entirety. The facts speak for themselves of how far and where we have managed to get together and although there are still those who doubt us in everything, little by little, step by step, we always respond with renewal and facts that are difficult to measure.”
With regards to the association’s finances, Vassallo said “Let me start with an important statement… the MFA made a profit and after a number of years where we were negatively affected due to the interruption of the football season for two years, I am happy to say that we have emerged from the difficulties. I know what other associations around us are reporting and unfortunately not everyone can express themselves like me at the moment.”
“After making a marginal profit the previous year, today we are presenting a much stronger position that reflects what we approved together a few years ago to recover the financial deficit caused by the pandemic. It is therefore a pleasure for me that, as the treasurer and the external auditor explained, there is no room for doubt about where the MFA stands financially. And even if it were, I would not be upset that we have come this far, because everything we have invested in has been done to assist members during the difficult time of the pandemic and to continue to help through financial assistance at every level to member clubs and associations. We were able to raise additional funds for capital projects and therefore no one was left behind. In fact not only have we maintained the existing development schemes and programmes, but we have continued to increase and show solidarity throughout the years. The facts speak for themselves and we remain focused on the work, the relationships with you and in favour of everything that continues to move the game forward.”
“Thus, I always thank you for your continuous support and I promise you more work and service towards your needs and the game and this so that we do not fall behind but rather to always be there in the moment of need. The competition on the pitch is beautiful, the antagonism offers a spectacle, but above all we must always act with respect towards each other so that we continue to strengthen this great sporting family.”
“Thank you to everyone for your trust and I thank you for your work in favour of Maltese and Gozitan football.”