Norman Darmanin Demajo has been re-elected as President of the Youth Football Association (Youth FA) for a new four-year term, following the 2025 General Assembly held last Thursday at Centenary Hall. Joe Cassar was also reconfirmed as Vice-President.
Representing youth nurseries on the Youth FA Council will be Marlor Caruana (Marsaskala), Mario Grima (Rabat Ajax), and Clayton Oliva (Fgura United).
In his address, Darmanin Demajo thanked delegates for their trust and reaffirmed the Youth FA’s mission to promote grassroots football by providing accessible, inclusive, and enjoyable experiences for young players.
However, he expressed concern over changes to the UEFA solidarity funds distribution in Maltese football. Although the total allocation rose from €1.08 million to €2.35 million, clubs outside the Premier League and Challenge League have reportedly seen reduced support. Darmanin Demajo called for urgent discussions between the Malta Premier League and stakeholders to find alternative funding for affected nurseries, stressing their essential role in youth development.
Season 2024–25 Highlights
The General Assembly reviewed key activities from the past season. These included:
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Football festivals for U-7 to U-11 age groups at venues such as the Centenary Stadium, Rabat Ajax Ground, Birżebbuġa Ground, and the National Stadium.
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A well-attended U-10 festival at the National Stadium marking the Malta FA’s 125th anniversary.
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An Under-8 futsal festival held at the Basketball Complex.
The Youth FA also expanded its educational and safeguarding work, including collaboration with Aġenzija SEDQA on addiction prevention.
New Initiatives
Several new projects were launched this season:
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“Let Us Play: Our Dreams, Our Game” – A campaign to promote positive behaviour by parents, guardians, and coaches, in partnership with the Inħobb il-Futbol Foundation and Malta Football Players Association.
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IlmaGħalik – A sustainability initiative with the Energy and Water Agency, enabling nurseries to install water dispensers and reduce plastic use.
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Goal4Literacy – An educational project with Ħamrun Ħanin and the National Literacy Agency, introducing mini-libraries at nurseries to promote reading.
Darmanin Demajo also reiterated the Youth FA’s disappointment at not being consulted on the changes to the UEFA solidarity scheme, calling for a return to the principles of fairness and inclusivity.
Despite challenges, the Youth FA reaffirmed its commitment to supporting grassroots football and promoting solidarity across all levels of the game.
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