MFA HOLD ACTIVITIES TO MARK GRASSROOTS DAY

The Malta Football Association marked the 5th edition of UEFA Grassroots Day on Sunday the 18th of May 2014 with a series of activities which coincided with the UEFA 2014 Under 17 Championship semi-finals.  The MFA Technical Centre in collaboration with the Youth FA and Special Olympics Malta hosted Unified Footballmatches at the Centenary Stadium prior to the first semi-finaland all the Special Olympics and Tarxien Rainbows Youth Nursery players really enjoyed playing together. The highlight, however, was their skills event during half-time of the first semi-final match at the National Stadium between Portugal and England. This was certainlyan attractive feature. These players, sporting MFA shorts & socks and wearing the official UEFA Grassroots T-Shirts, waited eagerly in the tunnel for the Portuguese and English players to leave the pitch so that they could alsoenter the stadium from the tunnel to sharethe same feelings and experience as those of the national team players when walking onto the pitch prior to an international match. The Special Olympics & Tarxien Rainbows Youth Nursery boys happily clapped the players, team officials and their coaching staff returning to the dressing rooms after the first half and their cheering seemed to be appreciated by both teams, so much so that some players clapped back or gave a thumbs up sign! The public cheered the Special Olympics & Tarxien Rainbows Youth Nursery boys on to the pitch and then the players proceeded to show off their skills, with all the boys thoroughly enjoying being the centre of attraction! When they left the pitch the public cheered them off too. It certainly was a memorable day for the boys!