GOWL GĦALL-ISTRINA

A special triangular football tournament, GOWL GĦALL-ISTRINA, will be held on Monday 7th December, 2009. All proceeds from this event will go towards the annual fund-raising fixture, L-Istrina. His Excellency, the President of the Republic, Dr George Abela will kick-off the tournament.

The producers of REPLAY, NET TV’s weekly 2-hour football show, are organising this unique event at the Luxol Stadium with the participation of three teams, namely, a team made up of the BOV Premier League and National Team Coaches, another team comprising of former Malta international players and a third team selected from among members of the Malta Football Referees Association (MFRA). The event, held under the auspices of His Excellency, the President of the Republic, Dr George Abela, will start at 7.30 pm.

During a press conference this afternoon at TeamSport, l-Iklin, executive producer George Micallef, said the event will bring together most partners involved in local football and at the same time help raise much-needed money in aid of L-Istrina. All three matches will be of 30 minutes’ duration while penalties will decide a match in case of a draw. Comperes for the night will be Louise Tedesco and Ronald Briffa.
 
What makes this initiative even more special is the fact that participants will raise money themselves through individual sponsors. Premier League players will generously sponsor their own coaches, who will return to action and grace the turf at Luxol Stadium. Entrance is free but the crowd present can make their donation during the tournament. The organisers hope that businesses will play their part as well to maximise the sum collected by donating €30 for each goal scored during the tournament. Needless to say participants will do their utmost to score as many goals in what promises to be a spectacle for the whole family on the eve of a national holiday.

Marica Mizzi, Head Communications Office of the President of the Republic, also addressed the press conference. While thanking the organisers for the initiative, she encouraged the sporting public to attend the event and help raise more money in aid of Istrina 2009.  She also announced that His Excellency the President of the Republic would meet the participants and kick-off the event.

Former national team coaches, Pippo Psaila and Gentscho Dobrev, will together lead the retired national team players’ side. Robert Gatt, ex-Hibernians mentor, will be joined by former Sliema Wanderers coach, now Replay TV pundit, Hugh Caruana, at the helm of the coaches’ team. The list of former international players participating includes, John Buttigieg and Carmel Busuttil, who will both take the field along the coaches’ team, David Carabott, Martin Gregory, Michael Degiorgio, Ray Vella, Joe Brincat, Reggie Cini, Stefan Sultana, John Holland and Ernest Barry. All Premier League coaches have accepted the organisers’ invitation to take part.