MFCA win annual Boxing Day Tournament at Centenary Stadium

‘Football for a good cause’ underpins the annual Boxing Day Tournament which sees different stakeholders in local football come together to play their favourite game in aid of L-Istrina, the annual fund-raising campaign of the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation. Teams representing the Malta Football Association, the Malta Sports Journalists Association (MSJA), the Malta Football Referees Association (MFRA) and the Malta Football Coaches Association (MFCA) converged on the Centenary Stadium this morning (Thursday) to take part in this round-robin tournament, organised by the MSJA. A total of six matches were played with two games played simultaneously every hour between 9am and noon. The Malta Football Coaches Association (MFCA) selection won the tournament with maximum nine points. A spirit of solidarity prevailed throughout the tournament but the ‘festive atmosphere’ didn’t stop the players of the four teams from giving their all in pursuit of top spot and the Boxing Day Tournament shield. The participation of former national team players, coaches, leading match officials and sports journalists enhanced the importance of the occasion. Malta U21 coach Silvio Vella, Under-19 coach Winston Muscat, and U-17 coach Noel Turner, together with other Malta FA employees including Franz Tabone and Rodney Pisani, turned out for the Malta FA selection along with some of the Association’s top officials, including General Secretary Dr Angelo Chetcuti and Vice-President Dr Matthew Paris. The two other Malta FA Vice-President’s Ludovico Micallef and Adrian Casha were also in attendance. Former Malta players Brian Said and Daniel Bogdanovic lined up for a strong coaches’ selection that also included Paul Zammit and Rupert Mangion. The sports’ journalists selection featured the likes of well known TV personality and former Hibernians forward Ben Camille, whereas the MFRA team was led by some of the country’s leading match officials including Trustan Farrugia Cann and Ishmael Barbara. President Dr George Vella paid a visit to the tournament, while Malta FA President Bjorn Vassallo was also in attendance. His Excellency Dr Vella conveyed his appreciation to the participating players and officials of the four organisations for renewing their support towards L-Istrina which is being held today. The Malta Sports Journalists Association' President Sandro Micallef, together with Lorraine Cunningham, General Secretary in the same Association, presented the winners’ shield to Malta Football Coaches Association captain Brian Said. RESULTSMFCA v MFRA 3-1Malta FA Staff v MSJA 0-1MFCA v Malta FA Staff 5-2MFRA v MSJA 2-3MSJA v MFCA 3-6Malta FA Staff v MFRA 1-2Standings: MFCA 9 pts; MSJA 6pts, MFRA 3pts, Malta FA Staff 0 pts.