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GFA ANNUAL MEETING

FOOTBALL IN GOZO HAS AN IMPORTANT ROLE

“I believe that football in Gozo has an important role for the island, not just from the aspect of sport but for also from the social point of view.” This was the main message of the GFA President Mr. Alvin Grech during the Annual Presentation which is organized by the Gozo Football Association at the end of each season. The event was held on Friday June 12 2009 at Hotel Ta’ Cenc in Sannat. Successful individuals and teams in different categories were presented awards. This season, the GFA also introduced some new categories mainly aimed to recognize the contribution of different persons ho left their mark in the history of Gozitan Football.

The speech by the GFA President highlighted the efforts of the Association aimed to improve the level of the players, coaches and all those involved in the game. Mr. Grech also insisted that everyone involved should be cautious to ensure that the teams do not go out of their financial means in an attempt to achieve a target. Otherwise, the efforts will not be beneficiary, and will end up harming the clubs and players. During the season 2008/2009, the GFA organized not less than seventeen competitions, seven championships and ten KO competitions. This resulted in a record number of matches, mainly due to the introduction of the competitions for the Female U/15. The Youth competitions in the Female sector are considered to be important to ensure that the Women’s Football may develop further.

According to the GFA President the increase in the attendance from the supporters at the Gozo Stadium is a clear indicator that overall the Gozitan Football passed a successful season. Mr. Grech stated that this goes to show that the success was a result of hard work and planning from all those involved in the organisation of the matches in the various competitions, especially when considering the difficulties encountered during this season due to the logistics since the GFA only had one full-size pitch as a venue for the matches.

The President also spoke about the priorities which the GFA has established for the immediate future. These consist in the improvement of the facilities of the existing venues, especially those of the Gozo Stadium and the Sannat Ground. However, the Association is also committed to support the member clubs in improving their respective training grounds to provide the best possible facilities for all the players of all categories. In this regard the GFA president announced that the Association has reached a financial agreement with a company that provides synthetic pitches, namely 240 Ltd.; so that Gozitan clubs may purchase the installation of this surface at the same price paid by the Malta Football Association. This scheme will undoubtedly encourage member clubs to invest in the improvement of their respective facilities.

Mr. Grech called everyone to intensify their efforts to consolidate the Youth sector since this is the best investment that one can make to improve the football on the island. These efforts correspond to the mission statement of the GFA which do not aim only to produce good footballers or athletes but the associations feels responsible also for the education and support for all the children involved. Further efforts are also needed to continue the project of consolidation in the administration of the GFA and the member clubs not only from a financial aspect but also in the way that the administration operates. The GFA continuously seeks to support and provide incentives to the clubs because the association believes that good administration leads to more professionalism and at the end to better results.

The GFA President also spoke about the competitive football, especially with reference to the participation of Gozitan teams in different categories at the national level. Overall, the participation has been quite satisfactory, particularly the Women’s U/15 and U/17 teams. Almost all the Gozo FC teams reached the projected target. The president congratulated the Women’s team that won all the championship matches and won promotion in its first season. It is encouraging to note that five players from this team were selected to form part of the National team. The U/15 team of the Youth FA won promotion to Section A, so that this team reach the top flight in two seasons; while the U/17 team won the championship in its first season of participation. The Gozo FC managed to retain the Division II status, but everyone expects more from this team and everyone wishes that the team can obtain a more prestigious placing at national level.

As regards the current projects, the president stated that the work on the new dressing rooms for the Gozo Stadium has been taken in hand recently and that more works is taking place to upgrade the facilities of our main Stadium with the aim to qualify for the required standards to host international matches. Mr. Grech also referred to the contribution of the association so that the member clubs may have a second full size-ground and announced that in the next few weeks the refurbishment of the Sannat Ground, which includes a new synthetic pitch and artificial lights, will be officially inaugurated. The Sannat Ground will therefore be in a position to host competitive matches during the evenings. In addition, the GFA recently also managed to attract an international tournament at the same Sannat Ground. These efforts are not only contributing to expose the Gozitan Football but also contribute to the economy of the island.

All this work involves a number of dedicated people and the GFA President thanked particularly those who work close to him. He thanked Mr. Joe Bajada, the General Secretary of the Association, for all the hard work carried out during the seasons and congratulated Mr. Bajada for the honour of the Official of the Year of the GFA. Mr. Grech also thanked Mr. George Cini, the GFA Treasurer, for his continuous efforts especially by finding sponsors to support the organisation. The President also had a word of appreciation to Dr. Joseph Grech, who is not only the legal advisor of the association but also the Chairman of the organising committee for the VIVA World Cup 2010 which will take place in Gozo in a year’s time. The president expressed gratitude to Mr. Joseph Portelli who served as the president of the Gozo FC for the first part of the season and Mr. Charles Calleja for his work at the MFA as a member of the Executive Committee. He also thanked all the members of the Executive Committee of the GFA, Council Members, members of the Gozo FC, the Gozo Youth FA, the various Boards at the GFA and the clubs. Special thanks was given by the president to the Minister for Gozo Hon. Giovanna Debono for her personal interest to give her support in all the needs of the association, to Hon. Clyde Puli for the aids given through the Kunsill Malti ghall-iSport; and to Hon. Tonio Fenech for the support given through the Good Causes Fund.

The GFA President expressed words of appreciation to the Officials from the Malta Football Association for their continuous support, to the main sponsors Melita, General Soft Drinks, Bank of Valletta, Gozo Channel, Sportika and Gozo Express. He also thanked APS Bank as main sponsors of the Gozo Youth FA. Mr. Grech recognized the hard work of the players and coaches in charge of the Gozo FC teams, the regional coaches, all the players and coaches of the Gozitan teams, who are the main protagonists of the activities, the employees, referees, the members of the media, the police and all those who are involved in one way or another with football in Gozo. The GFA president ended his address by expressing a special thanks to the families who support and make sacrifices because of the commitments required by the association.

Other speeches during the activity were delivered by Dr. Joseph Grech, President of the Gozo FC, Mr. Jonathan Dalli, representative of Melita plc on behalf of the sponsors and Mr. Carmelo Bartolo, Vice-president of the MFA. The Minister for Gozo Hon. Giovanna Debono and Parliamentary Secretary responsible for Youth and Sports Clyde Puli, both sent a message to excuse themselves for not attending the activity due to other commitments and congratulated the GFA on this special occasion.

Dr. Joseph Grech started his address by stating that he was called for the post following the resignation en bloc of the previous committee and following an Extraordinary General meeting that appointed a committee for the administration of the Gozo FC. During the meeting a motion to appoint the Gozo FC through the nomination of persons by the Administrative Board of the GFA was approved unanimously. Therefore, the Gozo FC from now falls under the authority of the GFA, which is also responsible for the Gozo Youth FA. The new committee includes representatives of the GFA and also representatives from the clubs that have players forming part of the team. Dr. Grech thanked the teams from the Youth sector, particularly those of the U/15 and U/17; and also the Female teams for the prestigious honour made to the GFA through their respective success. He added that the Gozo FC is aiming that from next season these teams start playing on home and away basis at the new pitch of Sannat ground, as happens in the main team which competes in the national championship of the MFA.

The president stated that the new committee is aiming to build a competitive team for the future, formed by the best players participating at the local level. As the chairman of the organizing committed for the VIVA World Cup 2010, Dr. Grech stated that the GFA will be represented by a selection from Gozitan players and not by the Gozo FC. This selection will be participating for the first time in the VIVA World Cup 2009 that is taking place in Padania during the last week of June. The participation in this year’s edition will be a good experience for the new coaches and players that should be useful for fine tuning in the future. Dr. Grech concluded by pointing out that the GFA is aiming to put Gozitan Football on the international sphere.

He called for collaboration from everyone since every Gozitan who represent Gozo is honoured to make a good name for our island. The president insisted that this is quite just since the final success is not attributed only to the individual but is linked to Gozo. It is therefore of utmost importance to work harder together with optimism to do our best to make a good name for the Gozitan identity.

Mr. Jonathan Dalli, a representative of Melita plc, stated that his company has become synonymous with sport both at national and international level. He said that the Gozitan sport is not an exception. Through the bond that exists between Melita and the GFA, Melita Sports transmits a football match every week from the Melita Division I championship. Mr. Dalli also referred that for the third season in a row his company did live transmission of the GFA Cup Final and he took the opportunity to congratulate SK Victoria Wanderers winners of this competition this season. Mr. Dalli stated that Melita Sports is committed to continue with its support in the forthcoming seasons and wishes the possibility that more matches may be transmitted. He also wished that everyone may continue to give contribution for the benefit of football in Gozo.

The Vice-president of the MFA Mr. Carmelo Bartolo stated that his association is grateful for the invitation by the GFA for this annual activity since this activity shows the hard work and improvement registered by this regional association. Mr. Bartolo reminded everyone that two years ago the GFA and its member clubs gained benefit from the project of installation of mini pitches. The GFA and the member club Sannat Lions will once again benefit from financial aid through programmes of the MFA and UEFA for the upgrading of the facilities at the Gozo Stadium and Sannat Ground. The MFA supports these investments and is promising that international matches will take place in Gozo. Mr. Batolo wishes that the GFA maintains its momentum and congratulated the association for its achievements. He also wishes that everyone continues to give the utmost to improve the level of the most popular sports on our islands.

At the end of the presentation of the awards and trophies, Mr. Mario Camilleri, agent of Sportika, presented the full kits to be used by the Gozitan selection during its participation in the VIVA World Cup 2009 to be held in Padania, Italy. After this presentation the GFA introduced the Gozitan Anthem that will be played at the grounds in Italy before the matches of the Gozitan selection. The anthem is composed by Prof. Mro. Joseph Vella, and recorded when played by La Stella Band of La Stella Philharmonic Society of Victoria Gozo.

The activity ended with a surprise presentation to Emma Xuereb on the occasion of her historic debut with the National team. Xuereb scored the second goal in a 4-0 victory by Malta over Latvia; which was also her first whole match with the national jersey, on Friday June 5 2009 in a match from the UEFA Mini-Tournament Grupp D4. The gift consisted in a set of photos by photographer Stephen Gatt and Louis Micallef from the MFA. The GFA president Mr. Alvin Grech and the General Secretary of the GFA Mr Joe Bajada presented the frames with photos to Emma Xuereb.

GFA ANNUAL DINNER PHOTO GALLERY

JOSEPH MERCIECA (GOZO VISION STUDIO)