EDWIN CAMILLERI, FRANZ TABONE AND ALVIN GRECH GRADUATE IN FOOTBALL MANAGEMENT

Among the 65 graduates who have recently received the UEFA Football Management Cerificates and Diplomas (CFM and DFM) were Edwin Camilleri, Franz Tabone and Alvin Grech from our national association. The presentation ceremony took place at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland.  The three Maltese candidates successfully completed a course leading up to these qualifications in football management which provides them with a sound basis in running and managing football. It must be pointed out that UEFA is involved in several educational initiatives which are beneficial to the game and particularly in the academic sphere. These specialised activities are an ongoing process which provides participants from the 54 member federations from Europe the opportunity to broaden their skills in the academic field of football management. The UEFA education programme comprises three elements – the Football Management (CFM), followed by the UEFA Diploma in Football Management (DFM) and building up to the Executive Master in European Sport Governance (MESGO). As per UEFA regulations presidents and general secretaries of national associations could recommend up to two members of staff a year as candidates for both the CFM and DFM. The third edition of the CFM began last September. Its programme is linked to UEFA's Knowledge & Information Sharing Scenario (KISS), with the objective of helping and supporting the UEFA member associations in the reinforcement of their knowledge and management of football. Certificates were awarded through the Swiss Graduate School of Public Administration (IDHEAP) at the University of Lausanne. A number of central topics were brought together in the CFM programme – the organisation of European and world football, strategic and performance management, operational management, event management, marketing and sponsorship, internal and external communication. The DFM has also completed its second edition, which began last September, concurrently with the CFM course. National associations' middle managers derive benefit from the DFM by having the opportunity to enhance their knowledge in important areas in the organisation of football events. These include volunteer management, stadiums and security, marketing operations and media operations. Congratulations go to Edwin Camilleri who obtained a Diploma in Fooball Management, Franz Tabone, the MFA Integrity Officer, and Alvin Grech from the Gozo Football Association, who each obtained a Certificate in Football Management. They will now be able to disseminate their knowledge in the development of football management and thus the game as a whole, as well as exchange their experience with representatives of other associations. It is the end of a journey but it is actually the beginning of something bigger – a community made up of the 54 member associations of UEFA, a community made up of qualified professionals who share a common understanding of some of the key functions and management principles applicable to football associations.