UEFA has just announced the appointment of Malta FA referees’ coach Ronald Zammit to its exclusive list of physical trainers in charge of Referees’ Development at the Centre of Refereeing Excellence (CORE).

CORE is embarking on its third season, which runs until August 2013, remaining true to its aim of developing the skills and fitness of potential Euro referees of the future.

The CORE programme, which is managed at the Colovray Sports Centre opposite UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon, began in 2010.

To date, almost 300 referees and assistants have attended specified courses and more than 60 have already been promoted to FIFA’s international lists.

Zammit is already in Nyon working with match officials from Albania, Andorra, Denmark, England, Northern Ireland, Norway, Romania, Switzerland and the US.

Earlier this month, he was invited to assist UEFA referees’ specialist Werner Helsen in the physical preparation of Europe’s best match officials occupying the Elite, Elite Development and First Category.

In a short statement, Director of Refereeing Adrian D. Casha congratulated Zammit for his remarkable achievement.

“Such an appointment goes on to show that the Malta FA is investing in top quality people like Ronald Zammit under whose guidance Maltese referees have significantly improved their physical condition,” Casha said.

Zammit, 40, has a degree from the University of Malta and he currently works as a teacher of Physical Education.

He has been working as a fitness instructor for the past 18 years, during which he has attended various fitness courses, in the process obtaining several certifications both locally and abroad.