I POLL

The iPoll is a synergy between MaltaToday, the Internet and you the readers.

Every week the web sites www.maltatoday.com.mt and www.maltamag.com will feature an opinion poll on a particular issue. The results of this Internet poll will then be published in MaltaToday the following Sunday along with an opinion article.

People who send in the attached coupon with their voting preference will automatically participate in a competition. One lucky participant will be put into a draw for a chance to win a Kia Rio.

Today’s issue arises each time Malta plays international football. Of late the results of the national team have been encouraging but somehow victory and a creditable placing seem to elude them. Supporter confidence has reached its lowest ebb and the stadium is almost always shamefully empty. We asked a former referee to analyse the situation.

The elusive football victory

By Tony Briguglio

When an opinion poll is carried out on whether Malta should participate in international football competitions, the general response fluctuates according to the latest result registered by our national side. However, the well-meaning critics, as well as true football enthusiasts, are all in favour of Malta's involvement in the international sphere, despite the poor results recorded by our national team.

The Malta Football Association has for the past years, been striving hard to upgrade the local football level, which is one of the lowest in Europe when it comes to the physical and technical aspects of the game.

In the early eighties, top class football was transferred to Ta' Qali Stadium and played on turf. High calibre foreign coaches were engaged and above all, a professional scheme was introduced for the national squad. These innovations did not produce the desired results. This led to the abandonment of the national team by the supporters.

In order to come up with a winning formula the parent body changed the coaches and terminated the previous players' scheme introducing instead a weekly training programme. Notwithstanding, the sporting public was let down at the moment of truth.

To make matters worse, small or smaller nations than Malta, such as Iceland, Cyprus, Luxembourg and the Faeroe Islands, have progressed in leaps and bounds.

Our main deficiency is the low level of domestic football. How can our game improve when our top teams still train on stony surfaces? In these circumstances, our game will definitely not improve. Our main exit valve to the situation is having more top class players joining overseas clubs.

Another important factor is the financial situation. Here again, although the MFA did invest substantially in the infrastructure, there is still a lot to be done as regards priorities. There is a lack of grass covered pitches especially for the junior sector.

The MFA's main income is derived from FIFA's and UEFA's bonuses, TV rights, sponsors and advertising. But this is not enough. In other countries, apart from government budgeting, money is also injected into sport through football pools, lotteries and other sources.

One of our main shortcomings was that the football schemes and schedules were projected for the short term. It is useless to engage a top class coach for our national team replete with players past their learning stage. The success of our under-21 team is a case in point.

It is true that some progress, even if minimal, was lately registered by our national team. However, more effort and energy must be injected to upgrade the present level in line with other smaller nations against which, till some years back, we could have easily held our own. But, alas, not anymore.

International participation helps our game to improve, generates more expertise and technical knowledge. It also stimulates our players by giving them the chance to compete against famous players in magnificent arenas. As to the loyal national team supporter, besides seeing our team in action against Europe's best, he may still savour the satisfaction of the much-awaited positive results.

Mr Briguglio is a former referee and TV football critic