Malta FA grieving loss of Alex Vella

The Malta Football Association is grieving the death of Alex Vella who passed away on Tuesday. He was 75. For many years until his passing, Vella was a highly-respected and valued member of the Malta FA Communications and Media team, occupying the post of press officer. In addition to his sterling contribution to the Malta FA and Maltese football, Vella was also a prominent sports journalist for Times of Malta, covering several sports including football, waterpolo, swimming and snooker during a career spanning over five decades. “Alex Vella will be remembered as a competent sports journalist, a prolific writer who was an inspiration to many up-and-coming sports reporters, and, above all, a true gentleman,” Kevin Azzopardi, the MFA Director of Communications, said. “Having known and worked closely with Alex for more than 25 years, I can’t speak highly enough of his abilities, both as a sports journalist and MFA press officer. “His demise has come like a bolt out of the blue as Alex had remained remarkably active. “Suffice to say that Alex was one of the main contributors of the publication launched by the Malta FA earlier this month to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Malta’s first official international match against Austria. “Besides writing interviews with the protagonists of that landmark 1957 match and other articles, he also helped out with the proof-reading. “Only recently, I had spoken to Alex about the possibility of contributing a few articles for the official matchday programme for the upcoming Malta-England World Cup qualifier and, typically, he promptly accepted and emailed the requested write-ups within days. “This sums up the man Alex Vella was... courteous, dedicated and reliable. “He will surely be missed but his legacy will remain for many years to come.” The Malta FA conveys its profound condolences to Alex Vella’s family. His funeral will take place on Thursday at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Balluta, commencing at 2 p.m.