The Malta Tourism Authority's partnership with Sheffield United seems to have put the country on the radar of several English Football League clubs as yesterday it emerged that some of them are seriously considering coming over for pre-season training camps this summer.
Top officials from the 72 clubs in the English Football League were in Malta these past few days to attend a Summer Conference and Annual General Meeting which came to a close yesterday at the Westin Dragonara Resort.
Sheffield United, who proposed Malta as venue for the conference, have already announced that they will be here for one week in July and Blades chairman Kevin McCabe yesterday revealed that six other clubs from the Football League have expressed an interest in holding training camps here before the 2010-11 campaign starts.
"We are pleased to have succeeded in luring to these islands officials from all clubs in the Football League. Promoting Malta is one of our main commitments with the sponsors," McCabe told The Times yesterday.
"For the past three years this conference was staged in Portugal but when the previous agreement expired I quickly got in touch with the Football League and suggested Malta as our new venue and it was accepted.
"I think this meeting was a great coup for Malta. Most of those I spoke to were impressed with the hospitality and facilities and some are seriously looking to bring their teams over for pre-season training.
"Several clubs are now making queries about this country thanks to this conference. I'm sure this will be a boost for sports tourism."
Kevin Drake, Director of Communications and PR at the MTA, is of the same opinion.
"The MTA is reaping huge dividends from our involvement in the English league.
"Sheffield United have been a crucial factor for Malta to host the Summer Conference which has given a lot of positive exposure to our country.
"This meeting is one of many direct benefits that we are reaping from this agreement with Sheffield United and hopefully there will be more to follow in the coming months."
The agreement between the MTA and the Blades is now in its second year. Goalkeeper Justin Haber spent 18 months at Bramall Lane before joining Ferencvaros, Sheffield United's twin club in Hungary.
Andre Schembri was another player who was snapped up by Ferencvaros this summer and last week it was announced that Sheffield United had signed Malta striker Daniel Bogdanovic from Barnsley.
"I have met Daniel a month ago in London and it took me little time to agree terms with him," McCabe said.
"In my opinion, Sheffield United have signed a tried-and-tested player who has done pretty well during his time at Barnsley.
"We have no doubt he will be a great influence in our team.
"Daniel is already aware of what is expected of him and I'm hopeful that he will be a key figure in our team's push to win promotion to the Premier League."
Mifsud interest
Bogdanovic could end up with another Malta international as team-mate at Bramall Lane next season as McCabe said his club may get engaged in talks to sign Michael Mifsud, the nippy striker who played for Valletta in the Maltese league last season.
"Michael is a player who I really admire," McCabe said.
"We all know how talented he is with his speed and finishing. I also saw him play for Malta in a qualifier against Hungary not long ago.
"Last season, we tried to settle on a deal for Mifsud but no agreement was reached at the time. But now that he is available again I will talk to manager Kevin Blackwell and see whether he fits in his plans.
"If we get the manager's nod, Sheffield United will do everything possible to bring Mifsud to Bramall Lane."
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