Parma takes football to Malta

Online, January 4, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Italian Serie A football team Parma were on an eight-day training camp, staying at Le Meridien St Julians Hotel & Spa from December 28, and celebrated the start of the New Year in Malta.

The full squad was led by club president Tommaso Ghirardi, team manager Alessandro Melli and coach Francesco Guidolin. It included former strikers Nicola Amoruso and Valeri Bojinov, defenders Christian Panucci and Paolo Castellini, and goalkeeper Antonio Mirante.

The team's visit was announced at a breakfast press conference held in the Pisces Room at Le Meridien St Julians Hotel & Spa on December 15. Among those who addressed the press conference were: Parliamentary Secretary for Youth and Sport Clyde Puli; hotel manager Angela Saliba; Louis Agius, director of JPL Sports Events; Gianni Lacchè, a Parma official; Victor Sciriha, Valletta FC president; and Stephen Abela, Hibernians FC secretary.

On December 30 Parma, the revelation of Serie A so far this season, occupying fourth place in the table, was involved in a triangular tournament, the Christmas Cup, with the other two teams being Valletta and Hibernians from the local Premier league. Parma won the tournament, winning first 3-1 against Valletta and then 4-0 against Hibs in the final (after Hibs earlier beat Valletta 3-1).

Guidolin told the media on arrival that he was pleased to be conducting this training camp in Malta, where the weather is much warmer than it is in Parma at this time of the year. "I am sure this is an ideal place to work hard to prepare for the match against Juventus soon after going back home", he was quoted as saying.