Birkirkara president calls for unified effort to boost local game

Victor Zammit, chairman of Premier League club Birkirkara FC, has called for a unified effort to enhance the flagging appeal of local football.

Addressing a news conference yesterday, announcing the signing of Birkirkara's sponsorship with McDonald's for the seventh year running, Zammit said: "We definitely have to work to improve the affinity between clubs and sponsors.

"The situation leaves much to be desired. Fans have turned their backs on the local game. It's a shame that clubs struggle to attract fans to their fold while supporters' branches of foreign teams boast hundreds of members," Zammit (picture) remarked.

The Birkirkara president disclosed some salient points arising from a telephone survey he conducted a few years back after he was appointed to the Malta FA Marketing Board.

"Two hundred and fifty persons were selected at random and asked to answer a set of questions, mainly relating to Maltese football, over the phone.

"Seventy-eight per cent of those interviewed said they watched foreign football only with 22 per cent claiming they were interested in the Maltese game. Only six per cent said they watched local football for the love of the game, the others did so because they supported a particular club."

Zammit said 76 respondents found Maltese football non-appealing, 85 branded it as corrupt, 33 slammed its poor standard, 16 said entrance tickets were expensive, 37 preferred to watch football on TV and three were put off by the foul language during matches.

Despite these negative findings, Zammit said that 76 per cent of the respondents confirmed that they do keep tabs on what's happening in Maltese football through the media.

"What's the use of having new stands without spectators. It's imperative that we, everyone who loves football, intensify our efforts to enhance the allure of the local game," Zammit added.

He also highlighted a series of initiatives which, he believes, can help to revive the interest. "I had recommended that nursery kids be given free access to the stadium (north and south stands) on matchdays. I also believe that the introduction of season tickets would constitute another significant step forward."

Widespread speculation of rampant bribery is also undermining local football and Zammit said it's high time the MFA and clubs thoroughly evaluate the situation.

"We must grab the bull by its horns. I strongly back the setting up of a joint-commission, made up of MFA officials, representatives from the clubs' standing committees and journalists, to look into the state of Maltese football," Zammit said.

Joanna Ellis, speaking on behalf of McDonald's, said they are working on a series of initiatives for the benefit of the Stripes supporters. The employees of McDonald's, Birkirkara have also introduced their yearly award for the best player. The first award was won by William Camenzuli.

Chris Attard commented on the club's enhanced website while Henry Bray, chairman of the Birkirkara nursery, said that 250 kids have enrolled in their nursery and these are supervised and trained by 15 qualified coaches.

Suda's injury

Hubert Suda's chances of making a comeback to football look very remote after it was revealed yesterday that the former Malta striker has not trained for the past two months.

"Birkirkara FC have done everything possible to help Suda overcome his injury. The player has been examined by a number of specialists, underwent operations and had treatment abroad but he insists that the nagging pain persists.

"Efforts to identify the exact cause of this pain have proved futile and this has discouraged Suda who has been absent from training for the past two months," Zammit said.

Stephen Azzopardi, the Birkirkara coach, played down speculation that the club are searching for another striker.

"We have the second best attack in the Premier League. I think it is in defence where we have encountered a few problems rather than in attack. I have the utmost confidence in the strikers we have in our squad," Azzopardi said.