'Talent can be found in every corner of the globe'

Football talent can be found in every corner of the globe and Malta is no exception.

The rapid rise of Bulgarian prodigy Valeri Bojinov since his move to Italian side Lecce from Pietà Hotspurs has helped to raise the profile of our football. Testament to this is the visit of Pantaleo Corvino to Malta.

Corvino's name may not ring a bell for local football followers but in his country, this man has earned a glowing reputation for his penchant to spot young talent in his capacity as sporting director of Serie A's Lecce.

Apart from Bojinov, Corvino is credited with the emergence of Uruguay's Ernesto Chevanton, arguably Lecce's most prized asset, and Fabio Miccoli, now at Juventus.

His club's excellent relationship with Pietà, also famed for nurturing young Maltese players, prompted Corvino, 54, to board a flight to Malta on Sunday to watch the Championship Pool match between Hibs and Pietà, won by the former 1-0.

His interest centred on two of the country's brightest prospects, Cleaven Frendo, Pietà's nimble but stocky forward, and Andrè Schembri, the Hibs midfielder.

"Valeri Bojinov's transfer from Pietà to Lecce has strengthened the ties between the two clubs," Corvino told a news conference yesterday.

"I take this opportunity to thank Edward Schembri, the president of Pietà, and Alfio San Filippo (agent) for giving me the chance to assess the potential of this player. It's thanks to these people that I have come here for a few days to enhance my knowledge of Maltese football.

"Obviously, the primary intention of my visit is to see whether we can unearth an interesting youngster or two from these islands. Having watched the Pietà-Hibs game on Sunday, I must say that I have noticed some prospective talents. In every part of the world there are quality footballers," Corvino added.

"My club is committed to grooming young talents into fully-fledged players. Our ambition is to discover more Bojinovs from around the world."

Bojinov, 18, has taken the Serie A by storm this season, his excellent striking partnership with Chevanton one of the main reasons for Lecce's satisfactory campaign so far.

The Bulgarian's journey to the glamour of Serie A also included a stopover in Malta where he served notice of his immense potential when turning out for the youth selections of Pietà. At the time, Bojinov had come to Malta with his family after Sacho Angelov, his step-father, was signed as one of Pietà's three foreign players.

Now, Bojinov's ascent has not passed unnoticed by the Serie A heavyweights who have already stepped up their chase to secure the services of Lecce's wonderkid.

Although Maltese football is not generally held in high regard abroad, Corvino believes that with the appropriate approach, a finished article can be eked out of raw talent.

"The top league here does not compare with the Italian Serie A," was Corvino's frank assessment. "It's a different level altogether but I have spotted some players who have potential. With the right training and dedication, this potential can be translated into quality," Corvino said.

The Lecce sporting director has been suitably impressed by the 18-year-old Frendo and Schembri, 17, but he is also keen on monitoring younger players. Several players from the Pietà nursery underwent a series of trial games and skills exercises under the watchful eyes of Corvino and San Filippo yesterday afternoon.

It is believed that some of the Pietà boys left a good impression on Corvino who is now expected to invite them for a trial with Lecce.

"It's not realistic to hope for another discovery like that of Bojinov but there are some interesting boys. There has been a notable amelioration in youth football here," San Filippo remarked during the news briefing.

"As I said before, our efforts are directed at fulfilling young potential. That is the gist of our work," Corvino said.

Malta becoming a full member of the European Union on May 1 should broaden the horizons of young local players who harbour aspirations of a career abroad. Corvino is optimistic that this important landmark for our country will benefit Maltese football if the opportunities are seized to the maximum.

"I have had a close look at two boys during Sunday's game, one born in 1985 and the other a year later.

"I believe that the right to freedom of movement within the EU should make it much easier for young players to pursue a career abroad as their future would not be conditioned by certain restrictions," Corvino said.

"I have also been impressed with the set-up of Pietà Hotspurs FC. Their organisation resembles that of an Italian Serie A club and we all know the prestige that our league enjoys in the international scene.

"Moreover, Pietà have always laid great emphasis on their youth sector. Given their high level of organisation, I don't rule out the possibility of sending some young players here if the opportunity arises," Corvino added.

"My club has come a long way in a short time and not just because of our participation in the Serie A. Our commitment to youth football has also earned Lecce a lot of recognition... our primavera side are the current Italian champions," Corvino said.

Ray 'Zazu' Farrugia, the Pietà head coach who had enjoyed a successful four-year spell at the helm of Malta U-21, bore the smile of a vindicated man as Corvino spoke about the potential of Maltese youngsters.

"I always believed that our boys have the talent to make the grade," he said. "How many times have we heard people say that our players stop developing after reaching a certain level... I beg to differ. With adequate training, I think young hopefuls can look forward to a rewarding future in football.

"I am glad to be working for a club that really cares about its youth sector. Bojinov was a Pietà player for some time and it's a credit to the efforts of this club that he is now one of the rising stars in one of the best leagues in the world."

EU impact

Meanwhile, less than two months before Malta joins the EU, local football is still weighing up measures how to face up to the new challenges.

According to reports from last week's MFA council meeting, local clubs have been discussing a proposal which allows only three foreign players on the pitch at the same time. EU regulations permit clubs in member countries to register as many EU non-nationals as they wish.

"Our clubs must keep their feet firmly on the ground," Schembri, the Hotspurs chief, replied when asked for his views on this issue.

"Clubs should refrain from exploiting their better financial resources at the expense of those less powerful. FIFA's slogan is Fair Play and I really hope that we'll respect this message when the market is liberalised."

Schembri yesterday conveyed his club's sympathies to Joe Sammut, the Pietà Hotspurs vice-president, following the death of his mother on Sunday night.