Players show true worth despite poor eyesight

Spectacles are a big handicap for those who practise sports. However, poor eyesight does not seem to deter some people from playing their favourite game.

In the past there was a small group of footballers who despite having to wear spectacles have left their mark on the history of the game on our islands.

Nowadays, of course, contact lenses have solved most of the problems. However, up to a relatively short while ago, short-sighted people had no option but to improvise.

At first they simply strapped their spectacles behind their heads. Later on they used plastic lenses or had special rubber spectacles made to minimise danger of accidents.

The most noted of this small group of local players who used spectacles were Godfrey Bonello, Maurice DeCesare, Johnnie Privitera and Peter Galea.

Surgeon Lt. Colonel Bonello RMA was born in 1912. Brother of the famous Floriana and Malta full-back Victor Bonello, he was an exceptional speedy winger of the old school. He was most noted for his direct forward play and powerful shooting with both feet.

Bonello stared with Gioventu Cattolica of Valletta in the Amateur League before joining Floriana FC towards the end of the 1920's.

Between 1932 and 1934, when Floriana were not active, he played for Sliema Wanderers. In 1934-35 he achieved ever-lasting fame by scoring the goal which gave Floriana a memorable 3-2 victory over SK Prostejov.

DeCesare was a powerful winger for both Melita FC and Sliema Wanderers.

A prolific goalscorer, his career spanned both sides of the Second World War. DeCesare was a prominent member of Gianni Bencini's Melita's pre-World War Two edition. He was also an excellent replacement for the great Salvu Sammut in 1939-40 when the latter defected to St George's FC. That season DeCesare scored 14 goals in the league from nine matches.

Privitera joined Sliema Wanderers in 1957. Tall and well-built, he could withstand the rough and tumble of football of the period.

Yet, despite his obvious talent he only played 10 league matches for the Wanderers. The Blues, possibly because Privitera wore spectacles, did not recognise his potential.

In 1959-60 Privitera joined Hibernians, a move which he never regretted.

With the Paolites he won all honours the game could offer including the Footballer of the Year in 1968-69. He also captained the national team.

Galea spent his entire career with Melita. A pure amateur he resisted many attempts from the big clubs.

He could, if he wanted, have walked into any top Maltese club of his era.

His poor eyesight did not deter him in the least. Playing with spectacles strapped around his head he established a goal-scoring record which is the envy of many other strikers.

In my opinion these are the best known Maltese footballers who played with spectacles. All of them were fine players in their own right.

They had one thing in common... for obvious reasons they hardly ever headed the ball. Well, at least as far as I could find out and remember.