Dr Anthony Galea and Carlo Mamo have been confirmed as President and General Secretary of the Malta Football Players Association (MFPA) respectively together with the other serving members of the Association’s Executive, namely Mark Barbara (Deputy General Secretary), Sihon Gauci Gonzalez, Gareth Sciberras and Konrad Sultana.

The MFPA Executive members were uncontested and their candidature for another four-year term was unanimously endorsed at the Association’s Annual General Meeting, held last Saturday.

During the AGM, Carlo Mamo presented the administrative report, detailing all the projects, initiatives and activities carried out by the MFPA during season 2022-23.

Building on the Association’s position paper for the period 2019-2022, the MFPA has published a new strategy for 2023-2026. The main pillars of the strategy are:

• Education

• Players’ Health and Wellbeing

• Women’s Football

• Services to Players

• MFPA’s Sustained Growth

The MFPA remains committed to strengthening its support programmes and the multitude of services offered to its members, including advice on contractual matters and legal representation, and the ongoing educational courses and other academic opportunities, including the introduction of a FIFPRO-endorsed Diploma in Sports Management which will be organised by Learning Works.

Reference was also made to the MFPA’s bold efforts to enhance the Association’s presence on social media, in the process increasing visibility for its projects as well as the efforts and achievements of the players through several new features. The latest edition of the MFPA Assist, the Association’s interactive newsletter which is sent to all members, was also launched during the AGM.

Dr Anthony Galea and Carlo Mamo reaffirmed the MFPA’s mission to safeguard the rights and interests of football players based in Malta while emphasising the Association’s resolve to boost women’s football which is one of the five priority areas of the new four-year strategy.

MFPA Player Council Meeting

The financial statements for season 2022-23 were approved by the AGM which was followed by a meeting of the MFPA Player Council. Established in 2021, the MFPA Player Council is made up of active players representing clubs from different categories of Maltese football, including the amateur leagues, and the members of the MFPA Executive, thus giving the players the opportunity to give their direct input in discussions on important matters affecting them at all levels.

The format of the domestic men’s and women’s championships for season 2023-24, the scheduling of fixtures and match venues of the women’s league and the renewal of the MOU with the Malta FA for the women’s national team players were among the main topics discussed during Saturday’s MFPA Player Council meeting.

The discussion on women’s football followed a meeting held last month with players from every club involved in the local women’s football competitions as well as the feedback received from Dorianne Theuma and Shona Zammit who represented the MFPA at the FIFPRO Women’s Summit 2023, held earlier this month at the FIFPRO House in the Netherlands.