It was around 830PM yesterday evening when I received a message informing me that Mario Meli, the veteran sports journalist had passed away. I’m is not shy to say that my eyes filled up with tears at the sad news. I knew Mario had been ill for some time and perhaps his passing was a blessing but as they say, when one is gone from this world, they aren’t coming back.
I have known Mario since I was a child, avidly following sports on radio and television. His distinctive voice in commentaries of hundreds of football matches, sports reports and countless other contributions made him a fixture alongside other such luminaries who have also departed such as Lewis Portelli, Henry Calleja, Benny Pace, Manuel Castagna and the much missed Pawlu Farrugia.
When I started my career as a sports journalist more than two decades ago, I regularly met Mario on assignments and he always had a kind word of advice for me. We met covering Premier League matches, water polo games and other sports where his encyclopedic knowledge was always crucial.
In later years, his voice faded but he continued contributing almost to the last. Mario ended his career in 2015 but was still active as an administrator in the Masters Football Association which he founded in 2013.
Mario was one of the founder members of the Ghaqda Kittieba Sports in 1971 and was on its first committee together with Benny Pace and others. Later when the organization became the Malta Sports Journalists Association, Mario also served on its committee and was inducted in its Hall of Fame in 2017.
Farewell Mario, you will be much missed.
The Maltese Herald sends its condolences to the Meli family.
Mario Meli 1940-2024
Sports Editor
Veteran Journalist
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