An analysis of the Maltese national football team since turning professional

Abstract

The aims of this unprecedented study about the Maltese national football team since its transmutation to professional lines through a sponsorship scheme, were essentially three-fold: (a) a full awareness of the implications that will matter most if the term 'professionalism' is to be attributed to the national team players, coach and administrators. (b) Examine closer, evaluate and formulate a constructive critique of the mechanisms in operation for the professional running of the National Team Sponsorship Scheme. (c) Suggesting a plausible reflective contract that would enable the parties, directly involved with the national team under the present sponsorship scheme to build a more harmonious and communicative relationship between each other. Results from a questionnaire with a total sample of 300, revealed that 83% opine that progress has indeed been attained under the professional scheme. It was also revealed that 74% of the global sample agree with the present scheme while an emphatic 96% think that Malta should continue to take part in competitions at international level. Furthermore, results showed that 63% believe that a local coach could be successful in taking up the post of national team coach, granted that he is provided the same conditions as the previous foreign coaches. Lastly professionalism within football context was conceived as 'a mature perception, behaviour, commitment and attitude towards football' by 50% of the sample. A further 32% presupposed professionalism as 'a profession with a specialization in football'. Four options had been laid out for choice.