Bank of Valletta have been confirmed as title sponsors of the National Leagues for the next three seasons after negotiations with the Malta FA led the two entities to seal a contract extension.
The signing of the new three-year agreement was held at the end of a news conference yesterday afternoon during which Tonio Depasquale, chief executive officer at BOV, and Joe Mifsud, president of the MFA, hailed the relationship between the two bodies as a successful partnership.
As with the previous contract, the Super Cup, the curtain-raiser to a new season, and the Player of the Month award will continue to be sponsored by BOV.
"Three years ago, we entered into our first agreement with the Malta FA for the sponsorship of the national football leagues," Depasquale told reporters at the BOV Centre in Sta Venera.
"I have to say that we at BOV are very pleased with our relationship with the MFA. Thanks to this sponsorship deal, we are nurturing the growth of the most popular sport in Malta. Our association with local basketball and waterpolo underlines BOV's commitment towards the development of sport in the local community."
Depasquale noted that a significant portion of the annual €2 million budget the bank allocates for community projects and sponsorships is devoted to sports. The sponsorship deal for the National Leagues is the biggest in the portfolio of BOV as well as that of the Malta FA.
Dr Mifsud, the MFA president, echoed Depasquale's positive comments about the excellent co-operation between the governing body of local football and BOV.
"BOV are satisfied with their relationship with the MFA and so are we," Dr Mifsud said. "Our association with BOV is not restricted to sponsorships but it also covers commercial aspects as BOV are the MFA's official bank."
The MFA supremo said that local clubs are the main beneficiaries of this agreement but a significant part of the sponsorship money is also used to upgrade facilities at local stadia. Here, Dr Mifsud made reference to the on-going embellishment works in several areas of the National Stadium.
"The MFA will receive a grant from UEFA worth €2.5 million to help our clubs improve their facilities," Dr Mifsud added.
"Furthermore, we are in discussions with BOV over the issue of a loan of €2 million which will also be utilised to give financial assistance to those clubs that have submitted plans to modernise their training and playing facilities."
At the end of his speech, Dr Mifsud called for good behaviour by the fans at local stadia and urged them to refrain from breaking seats.