WOMEN’S DEVELOPMENT SEMINAR IN STOCKHOLM

An important seminar under the aegis of the UEFA KISS programme was a Women’s Football Development Seminar held in Stockholm recently. Malta was represented in this activity by Bjorn Vassallo, the MFA CEO and Maria Mifsud, the Deputy General Secretary Grassroots, Youth Development & Education in charge of Women’s Football.  The four-day event started on the 26 July and ended with the Euro final between Germany and Norway. It consisted of panel discussions and interesting brainstorming sessions as well as discussions within smaller groups. All European federations’ General Secretaries / CEO’s were also invited so that they would experience the work done in the women’s game across Europe. Karen Espelund, Theodore Theodoridis, Giorgio Marchetti, Per Omdal and Emily Shaw were key people amongst the UEFA representatives during the seminar. FIFA was also represented. Amongst the many topics discussed were goalkeeping coaching, elite youth, health in women’s football, league development, club development, marketing and other topics related to improving the women’s game.         Malta’s past two to three years of activities in women’s football were also mentioned by UEFA and FIFA in their own presentations. Besides this, the MFA was invited to share its experience of marketing and promotional work in women’s football in Malta. This presentation was made by Maria Mifsud and was appreciated by the other delegations, including the UEFA personnel present who were impressed by the holistic and strategic programme run in Malta.