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James Debono
An unlikely football formation from Mdina, whose foray into competitive football will start in the lowly third division, is not destined to become Malta’s equivalent of Berlusconi’s AC Milan or Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea.
Gilbert Camilleri, Mdina Knights’s public relations officer, confirmed the new club had approached Charles Polidano to be one of their sponsors, but the construction magnate was not interested.
Ic-Caqnu is even more categorical in denying rumours about his connection to the club. “I do not even know that such a club exists… what do I have to do with Mdina?” an incredulous Charles Polidano told MaltaToday.
Ic-Caqnu might have emulated Berlusconi by venturing in the media by reviving Radio Calypso, but he is still shying away from football.
Despite failing to enlist one of Malta’s richest men to prop them up, Mdina’s knights are confident they will fill a niche in Maltese football based on “brand loyalty”.
Mdina Knights can boast of a corporate sponsor, Keith & Co Creations, which is behind events like the Bob Geldolf concert and the forthcoming Bob Sinclair XFM event at Gianpula. Eman Pulis, the club president, is a fellow party organiser.
The new team is not discouraged by the lack of an old firm tradition at Mdina. They do not harbour any illusions of attracting double barrelled Mdina aristocrats to boost their morale in the ground, even if they promise that they would do their best to wake enthusiasm in the silent city for the new team.
But more significantly, representing Mdina gives the new team prestige, Camilleri told MaltaToday.
“Mdina gives a brand name to a team whose selling point is novelty and a more sophisticated corporate image. We aim to attract the support of young people like university students who might not be so attached to their locality but who would support a team they like.”
Quite a postmodern and rootless vision of football, one could say. After all most of the committee’s members are in their 20s and none hail from Città Notabile.
Camilleri would not reveal anything about the new team’s acquisitions. But he does not exclude that the team will have a couple of players hailing from Mdina. The only connection with Mdina so far is the backing they received from the Mdina local council.
As a third division club, Mdina Knights cannot enlist any foreigners. Camilleri would only say that their coach Alex Schembri has set his eyes on promising minors.
Schembri is not a new face in Maltese football, having coached clubs like Gzira and the Floriana minors. He also boasts of discovering new talents like Justin Haber and Antoine Camilleri.
So far the club has no plans on opening a supporters club at Mdina. And they are still training at the University football grounds, far away from the silent city.
jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt
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