Sport Malta Awards 2014: Great year for MFA

 When we look at the several sports events during 2014 many consider that football occupies the top spot in terms of prestigious events both on the football field as well as in the administrative and organisational sector. The ruling football body, the Malta Football Association, was in the forefront when conducting its operations locally and abroad relating to its different departments . The piece de resistance was certainly the staging of the UEFA Under 17 Finals in May, a high-profile continental tournament which comprised the participation of seven elite Europen nations after they had qualified from previous rounds and Malta who qualified automatically as hosts. The unquestionable success of the finals drew deserved accolades from UEFA’s high-ranking officials who were truly impressed by the organisational skills and logistical preparations of our association through its organising committee. The outcome was a highly-deserved award by UEFA recognising the MFA’s Reach Out Campaign to attract  a wide cross section of spectators and the excellent organisation of the Under 17 Finals held in three venues, the National Stadium, the Hibernians Stadium and Gozo Stadium. During this event, Bjorn Vassallo, MFA general secretary, on behalf of the Association, received a special award for the Best Event of the Year during the May UEFA U-17 finals. This was followed by another award to the UEFA Finals tournament director, Joe Cassar, who was voted Official of the Year in the  Malta Sports Contests. National team coach, Pietro Ghedin, was second in the coaches section after steering our senior team to some creditable results in the Euro qualifying matches. Meanwhile Mario Apap won the Sportiv Għawdxi category in the Referees Elite class. It was a year rubberstamped by Valletta’s double success as they won the BOV Premier League and the U*BET FA Trophy. Hibernians won the BOV Women’s 1st Division Championship, with Birkirkara landing the Cup. There were other significant events ranging from the women’s department ‘Live Your Goals’ campaign for schoolgirls and nurseries to the MFA’s several initiatives to promote the principles of Fair Play, Solidarity and the fight against corruption. A number of referees and coaches seminars as well as other initiatives and administrative innovations by the MFA Council were all intended to improve the development of the game. All in all one is bound to acknowledge that the year 2014 was another eventful chapter in the history of the Malta Football Association.