Having overseen the emergence of a host of talented players who now form the backbone of the national team, Ray 'Zazu' Farrugia, the former national U-21 coach, has his gaze fixed on another youth-related football project.
On launching his new Zazu Football School, open for children aged 5-14, Farrugia yesterday explained what prompted him to embark on this initiative.
"My school will help young players fulfil their potential but we also want them to form a strong character to face the problems of life when they grow up," Farrugia said at the Westin Dragonara Resort where the launching was held yesterday.
"A number of football schools of varying repute have opened in Malta over the past few years and this, in my view, has been a positive development. So the question why I have decided to start my own school comes naturally.
"First and foremost, this has been brewing in my mind since I obtained my coaching badges. This ambition moved closer to reality when, after terminating my contract with my former employers, General Sports Enterprises, I was approached by a group of people, including Anthony Meli and Jeffrey Farrugia, who showed interest in this venture.
"The proposal became all the more appealing when we discussed how the school can be expanded into a fully-fledged academy once the Tignè project is completed.
"Initially, the Zazu Football School (starting today at the artificial turf pitches at the University grounds) will offer normal classes for young players but for the future, we are also carefully analysing the possibilities of introducing the first football-oriented academy where children will be able to learn the normal academic subjects but will have more time to practise sport."
Although the first reports about Farrugia's designs to establish his own football school emerged a few weeks ago, the former Pietà Hotspurs coach said he was surprised with the response he has already received.
"I have just been informed that over 60, including some girls, have already applied to join the Zazu Football School. I think this is very encouraging," Farrugia added.
Farrugia also dismissed as unfounded speculation that his school was a kind of unofficial offshoot of the Sliema Wanderers FC nursery.
"Our initiative has no connection with Sliema Wanderers," Farrugia said. "The shareholders in this concern come from different localities."
Farrugia, who started his playing career with Floriana FC before moving to Australia where he joined Melita Eagles, is perhaps more popular for his successful spells as coach of the Malta U-21 and Pietà Hotspurs. But over the last six years, he has also been called upon to give his input in other youth football initiatives, like the Gary Neville Soccer Schools and the Buzu School.
During his time as U-21 coach, Farrugia spent two weeks as guest of Manchester United and last summer, he took a squad of U-14 players to the UK where they had a series of friendly matches, including one against boys of the same age from the United academy.
That visit, made possible through Farrugia's relationship with John Buttigieg, the former president of the Manchester United Supporters' Club (Malta) widely known to have extensive contacts with top United players and officials, enabled Farrugia to observe how one of the best football academies in the UK went about its business of grooming young football talent.
"It was a great experience and I tried to take as much on board as possible," Farrugia said.
"The thing that impressed me most was the respect the young players have for their coaches. This sheds a positive light on the maturity of young players in England, an aspect that I feel is sorely lacking in our domestic football."
Training at the Zazu Football School, which is already backed by a host of sponsors including Konica Minolta, PJ Sutters, Cafe Ranieri and Chez Gaetan, will be held between 4.30 to 6 p.m. from Monday to Friday.
Randolph Mizzi, in charge of the administrative part of the school, said they intend to organise other off-pitch activities for their members like cultural outings and weekend breaks. Discussions to send two teams to play friendly matches in the UK are also underway.
Apart from Farrugia, the coaching staff at the Zazu Football School is also made up of Marko Glumac, from Serbia and Montenegro, and Murphy Akanji, the Sliema Wanderers goalkeeper.
Farrugia was very blunt in his reply to a question whether he would consider a return to Premier League coaching.
"When I signed a contract with my former employers, the original plan was to spearhead their school but Edward Schembri, the president of Pietà, at the time asked me to take over their senior team and I found no objection.
"If the opportunity comes to coach a top club, I would consider it so long as the job does not distract me from my obligations towards the Zazu Football School," he said.