Sport 21/07/2002

A whole life dedicated to sport

He was one of the pioneers of basketball in Malta. Worked for the improvement of basketball for 30 years. Played football for Gzira and Sliema and coached the likes of Gzira, Melita and was involved with Hibernians. Now he is one of the prime organisors of the FISEC games. Louis Borg, better known as one of the best ever basketball referees in Malta speaks to RAY ABDILLA

How did you become involved in sport?

Everything started at school. I played football and took part in athletics at Stella Maris College, the Seminary and later at St Michael’s Training College. I practiced almost all indoor games including billiards at the Catholic Action. Later I played football for Gzira United and Sliema Wanderers.

I noted the lack of sporting activities for our young people except for football. This pointed me anhd fellow teachers at basketb. I also introduced "Keep Fit Classes" for women and men at the then Polytechnic for the first time in Malta.

If I am not mistaken Basketball was your very first love. Why? And did you follow any other sport?

No; Football was my first love. Later I took up coaching and also helped in the formation of the Malta Football Coaches Association with the late Joe Griffiths. I also coached Gzira United and Melita Football Club and also had a short period with Fr Hilary at Hibernians FC. I had a hand in the formation of the National Youth team, as I was the National Youth Coach for two years.

In those days I couldn't combine football and basketball as I had by then become a teacher. Finally I decided to dedicate myself to establish a new game for Malta – basketball. Basketball is an educational game and very exciting. It's great for young people who cannot play football to concentrate on this beautiful game. I started with the game at the Msida Primary School and the Gzira Primary School and later at the Polytechnic. The late Tony Micallef Borg helped me. Eventaully I introduced the game to the Malta Olympic Committee.

You used to coach, referee and help others in basketball, can you tell me how it all started? Which teams did you train and how it was that you started refereeing? How was basketball in your time? I remember teams like Lyceum Wrangler, Fiat Luxol etc. can you tell us about it?

I did very little coaching in basketball except at school college level. I always believed that officiating the game should be the first step to establish discipline. I used to officiate two to three matches a day on my own when we started and this took a whole season. Mr Keith Mitchell of FIBA was brought over and a referees' course was organise. From then on basketball matches took a more serious turn. I stopped refereeing and took over as Secretary and later President. My affair with basketball took 30 whole years. At first basketball was taken to be netball but TV changed this when the USA games and the Olympic games were shown. Lots of small clubs mushroomed and the Association was formed in 1964. Mini-Basket was introduced and played in temporarily marked pitches in village squares such as Bugibba and Valletta. In schools basketball became popular. De La Salle College, St Edwards, Lyceum, Polytechnic etc. had good teams and later they introduced sponsors to help them.

Besides being a teacher yourself, you always encouraged sport. Why? Was it hard for you at the beginning knowing that the mentality of the Maltese parents is " sport might ruin the students studies." Has this culture changed?

This culture has improved but a problem to be studied is why university students do not participate in sport. Perhaps it's a lack of facilities but it is hoped this will improve. Participation in sport is healthy and is a safety valve for the energy of the young. The concept of Olympics should be the basis of sport: fair play, good competition spirit, healthy approach in participation, respect for opponents etc. Sport helps the young to remain active and also enthusiastic towards life.

After being a top basketball referee. Why did you call it a day?

I was only a ‘local’ top basketball referee but I never reached the international stage. I believe there are some within the Malta Basketball Association today who may do so. I was awarded with the FIBA badge as a Commissioner which meant I had appointments within FIBA for international matches as supervisor. I had to stop refereeing when I decided to take an administrative role within the association.

Was it after stopping from basketball that you moved into handball. And besides handball what do you follow now?

No, not really. I am still ‘President Emeritus’ within the Malta Basketball Association. However basketball is now in good hands and has settled quite nicely. With handball Donald Dalli had asked me some six years ago to help him establish the game which has been quite popular but which needed some administrative guidance. I accepted and tried to form a nucleus of young people to popularise the game. Besides handball I also have other commitments with the Malta Olympic Committee as Director of the Academy.

What do you do in handball and how has the sport evolved in Malta compared to the rest of the world?

Handball is still in its infancy. My main contribution at the moment is to guide this young group to establish the game. We have already established the game in schools and it is in the same level as basketball and volleyball. I am fortunate to have this group in the teaching profession. This helps a lot when a game is still young. Soon we will have an international tournament of emerging nations and this will be played at the new Sports Hall at the University as this is the only fullsize court for the game.

The game of handball is very popular worldwide and it compares favourably with the rest of the Olympic Games. In Europe the Scandinavians lead but Germany is also very strong.

If I am not mistaken you are the author of a book that has sport written all over it. Did anyone influence you in writing it? Was it all your idea? Can you tell me something about the book?

"Sports Institutions and Associations in Malta" follows another handbook for teachers which the Malta Olympic Academy published some three years ago called "The Olympic Adventure." My idea was to give a historical background of the Sports Associations in Malta and to start, perhaps, a deeper study later on the practice of sport in Malta. The contributions which are included are mainly from the Associations themselves but I am sure that in future someone will take up the jobof making a more extensive contribution on the subject. This initiative has been taken thanks to the Malta Olympic Committee which commissioned the Academy to do the job.

It looks as if sport runs in the family. Your brother, Brother Martin is a sports lover and he's at the moment busy organising the FISEC games which will be held in Malta. Do you liaison with your brother and are you in the FISEC organisation team? What are your comments on games such as the FISEC?

Yes, I am in the organising team of the FISEC Games. In fact I am the Games Director. I was instrumental in introducing FISEC to Malta way back in 1966 when I visited Soignes in Belgium to see the Games. A year later, 1967, we held the famous FISEC Football tournament at the Old Empire Stadium in Gzira, and Malta finished in second place but was placed first as Spain had made use of an ineligible player. With my brother, Bro. Martin, I formed part of the FISEC Executive Committee and we collaborate with the MSSF (Malta Students Sports Federations) and annually send a group of students to participate in the FISEC Games. This year they are being held in Malta between the 22 and 29 July.

FISEC has been established in Malta since 1966. These games offer our students some motivation to reach higher levels. The standard in the FISEC Games is quite high and it serves a target for the students wanting to be chosen. On the other hand there is no harm done if our students participate in other international competitions both at school and at national level.

What are your impressions on Maltese sports? Has it change during the past 30 years?

Many critics say that the curriculum is too packed for a student to concentrate on both his studies and sport. Do you agree and could something been done to solve such a problem, if it really exists.

Maltese sports has improved in Malta in these last 30 years but our progress is too slow and so our results become insignificant when it comes to competitions. However we should never give up. We must work more on the attitude the Maltese have towards sport. We must work more and learn how to be patient to achieve the result and not aim solely on the winnings of medals in some spectator sport.

For example isn't it a pity that at the University were there are around 8,000 students, there is not a single football team. Isn't this strange?

Are there any solutions to improve sport in Malta? Or is the "excuse" of 'we're small' good enough to stay put and do nothing?

It is time that the curriculum is examined but this is no excuse. Other European countries are facing the same problem but the schools especially through their physical education teachers have to work harder to break this barrier. The basics of sport should be taught better and perhaps should be taken more seriously at Primary School level. Perhaps with the introduction of "activity teachers" this can be done. One heartening fact is the introduction of PE as an examined subject in future (2004). PE teachers now are taking PE more seriously and students have a chance to show their ability and achievement through an examination. Physical Education has now gained more respect and I hope that sport in general will gain by it.

Meanwhile the University must take sport more seriously. The students are indifferent to sport but this is perhaps through lack of facilities. Now that there is a move in the right direction on this, the Sports Hall which has just been completed, synthetic turf pitches etc., one hopes that the students will be encouraged.

By the way there is a University football team and they participate in the GIDA league on Sunday’s.

What does the future hold for Louis Borg?

Nothing. I hope that God gives me strength to keep on working for the good of sport so that our young people will have the opportunity to lead a healthy lifestyle.