SOWING THE SEEDS IN ACADEMICS AND SPORT

Those who contend that academics and sport cannot co-exist in harmony have been proved wrong time and again. Experience has shown that not only can the two go together but they have combined to be a successful tandem in the holistic formation of youths.     Sport complements studies. The other way around holds water. Upright values are important components as new horizons are sought in furthering one’s academic education and at the same time making successful inroads in sport. Several athletes who have reached the summit of local sport to represent Malta and successfully pursued a professional career can be singled out as role models. The list extends from football, swimming, track and field, triathlon and other disciplines too many to mention. An example where students are seeking to further their studies when flying their country’s flag was provided recently when a group of Under 16 male and female footballers representing Malta in a UEFA Youth Development Tournament held in Chalkida Greece  presented a perfect setting of what can be done with the collaboration of all to help youths sit for their local exams while attending to their sporting call during their stay abroad. The background to this looming situation was provided by Jesmond Abela, manager, MFA Technical Centre, who assisted the head of delegation, Robert Gatt, when our teams travelled to Greece in the third week in March. ‘When in a meeting weeks before we left we informed the parents about the possibility that their children could be sitting for their exams in Chalkida, they were justifiably worried,’ he said. ‘Apart from the English Listening Comprehension exam, we also had to plan the dates for the PE SEC Exams not to co-incide with the tournament dates. However, with the constant help of Mr Dario Pirotta. Prof. Frank Ventura, Head of Matsec Board, and Mr Sean Pollacco all this was programmed to the last detail,’ Abela said. ‘During meetings at the Matsec office in the presence of Bernard Vassallo, the KMS Chairman, it was agreed that these exams should be held at Chalkida. Contacts were made with the Greek FA to finalise transport arrangements.’ ‘On the day of the exams Dr Lefki Papacharalambous, Head of Foreign Languages & Physical Education of Tei Technical Institute and Dr Afroditi Ktena co-ordinated the logistics arrangements,’ Abela replied when asked about such details as transportation, invigilation and provision of exam papers by email and mp3 files for audio transmission. ‘Luckily everything worked out perfectly as we planned to the satisfaction of all concerned,’ the MFA official remarked with a gleaming sense of released suspense. Most of all it, was the 20 candidates and their parents who expressed their gratitude towards the Matsec Board, the MFA, the Greek education authorities and the FA officials in Chalkida. ‘We are indeed indebted to all the people concerned. Thanks to them we were able to sit for our exams to our satisfaction. It would have been a pity had we been denied this opportunity after years of studying. This provided us with the will and extra effort to do well on the field of play. We are all very happy now,’ one of the candidates said fittingly on behalf of the others. The parents were equally grateful that this ordeal was over successfully. ‘We are also thankful to the MFA, the local University authorities and Greek personnel for giving our children the chance to fulfil both their wishes, that of completing their exams abroad while representing their country in the sport they love,’ one of them remarked. No doubt, this was a case of perfect liaising among all in matters concerning the future of our youths. A trademark example of sowing the seeds in academics and sport.