“I have lived my life in football and experienced the game at all levels from playing to administration to development of football infrastructure. The game has given me a great life and great experiences. I would like to share a lot of what I have learnt and use it for the benefit of the future of local football.”

It looks like there is no doubt about Norman Darmanin Demajo’s determination to bring about changes at the helm of the MFA. The former MFA treasurer appears to be back with a clear-cut agenda to institute changes at the MFA after a long tenure by Joe Mifsud, although it’s an opposition which in the past had already defeated other challengers.
“I want is to run for president because I believe that, after 15 years, it’s time for a change in leadership. I also think the MFA needs to change direction and start seriously investing in the infrastructure at club level. Our clubs are in dire straits and need immediate assistance.
“I have presented a programme which prioritises clubs’ needs over anything else. To implement this I have to be elected president – and to be elected president I will have to run against whoever stands in my way – however formidable the opposition is.”
Formidable indeed. The brash Joe Mifsud has enjoyed enormous clout as the president of the MFA, staving off a challenge from former Valletta FC president Joe Caruana Curran three years ago, as he secured the support of the lower-division clubs to defend his position. Mifsud’s reaction to the challenge, in which he didn’t take kindly to the gall at having his position challenged, was typical of the man who last Sunday said his new challenger had caused “a lot of harm to the association”, even splitting it down the middle.
Although Darmanin Demajo does not go into the reasons of the acrimoniousness between Mifsud and him, he is clear about the inexistence of any formal relationship with Mifsud.
“There is no relationship. We do not frequent the same places and we have not spoken a word to each other since December 2000. Ever since I announced my candidature and during my visits to the clubs in the past few months, I have made it a point not to bring up anything of the past, and not to mention any names, but to stay focused on my programme and vision of the future for Maltese football.
“I stuck with my plan and will continue to do so till the election. I will not be drawn into any issue other than my agenda; besides, I do not think people really care about the past. I think this election issue will be decided by what the voting delegates believe is in their club’s best interest today – the relationship, or lack of it, between Mifsud and myself is irrelevant.”
Just over a year ago, egged on by a few small clubs, Darmanin Demajo decided to enter headlong into the running for the presidency, an idea he originally discarded fearing lack of preparation.
“I wasn’t sure of what sort of support I enjoyed. As the months went by, the initial backing grew and I then began to seriously think about how I could help Maltese football if I became president; an exciting idea took root and encouraged by the response of my small circle of trusted friends, I decided to take on the task and began to seek support from all the clubs and member associations. The reaction from the clubs was very positive and I am confident that I will be given the mandate later this week.”
His self-assuredness might be prompted by the growing support he has from the major clubs in both premier and first division leagues, as against the second and third division clubs which are traditionally supporters of incumbent Joe Mifsud, and whose votes are worth half that of the top two divisions.
“During the past four months I had the opportunity to visit every club in Malta, and also with the council of the Gozo FA. The visits strengthened my conviction and fuelled my resolve to make funds available to invest them directly into the clubs’ infrastructure, mainly through the installation of artificial surfaces, adequate floodlighting, and the upgrading of clubs’ administrative premises. My election will signify the clubs’ approval of my programme. I have also proposed changes to the way gate income will be distributed – a combined benefit to the clubs to the tune of Lm100,000 per season.”
His programme, presented to all clubs, was signed as proof of his commitment to work towards the objectives that we agreed.
“On Saturday I presented a document to all the member clubs which included the details of my programme with additional information of the funds needed for the program, and documentary evidence of where the funds are coming from and how they will be applied.
“The document also provides opportunities for the clubs to start taking all the income from their ‘home gates’ and details of other assistance programmes that will become available.
“I also gave information of how I propose to make the association more transparent and more accountable to its members with the appointment of professional internal auditors, whose terms of reference will include the verification and checking of all contracts entered into by the MFA, including the contract for the exploitation of TV rights and other sponsorship agreements. All in all, I have presented a realistic package that improves the level of the game in all the towns and villages over Malta and Gozo rather than focusing only on the facilities at Ta’ Qali.”
But it will be a fact of life for Darmanin Demajo, if elected president, to face his rival in his role as UEFA executive committee member for the next four years – a measure of clout for Joe Mifsud in the UEFA circuit.
“Yes, I tend to agree that as things stand this prospect does not augur well, although UEFA is a very big organisation and the day-to-day dealings with it will not be in any way affected. There are many UEFA executive committee members who are not presidents of their own association, so the situation is not new to UEFA and happens continuously. If Joe Mifsud shares my vision of the future of Maltese football, then he is welcome to be a part of it and give his contribution to make it happen. We must remain focused on our goals and put aside personal grudges for the good of the game.”
But he may find difficulty to carry out his programme if his vice-president, four of whom are contesting this year, three of which belong to the opposing camp, turns out to be a Mifsud supporter.
“All the runners for this post are fully aware of my programme – if any of them have a problem with it and are not willing to support me wholeheartedly in making it happen, then I would expect them to withdraw their nomination if I get elected. If they don’t withdraw then I would assume they are willing to work with me and I will respect their position if they get elected.”
Darmanin Demajo, who served in UEFA for over seven years, says he will focus instead on the immediate service to clubs, “rather than concern myself too much about getting mileage abroad”.
And although getting elected is at the top of his ‘to do’ list, he says he still has other projects in the pipeline if things don’t go quite as well as he expects them to.
“If the majority of the clubs are happy with the way things are, then their vote will express that and the prospects of Maltese football will reflect this situation. At the end of the day, everyone gets what he deserves – it’s as simple as that.”