Marsaskala FC in gushing praise for new university

Marsaskala Football Club welcomed the recent announcement that a private university could be constructed at Zonqor Point near Marsaskala.

“Thanks to this project, Marsaskala will also benefit from sports facilities in the form of what is expected to be a new Sports Complex, which today it does not have, including but not limited to a full size football ground,” the third-division football club said in a statement. “Marsaskala has one of the largest youngest populations in Malta and an annually growing overall population. In spite of this, it currently has no adequate sports facilities.”

They said that Marsaskala’s children and youth will be able to enjoy the American Univeristy of Malta’s sports complex in a “nice, healthy and educational atmosphere”.

Last week, the government signed an agreement with the Jordanian construction firm Sadeen for the construction of the American University of Malta. However, the proposed land at Zonqor Point is outside development zones, provoking outrage from environmental NGOs.

“It is interesting to note that no position was taken along the years when harmful activities were proposed and took place in Marsaskala,” Marsaskala FC said. “Silence also prevailed over the years as Marsaskala quickly grew in terms of residential areas which replaced farming and open space land; thereby causing the population density of today and the subsequent need for investment in projects to sustain the same residential community.

“Indeed, Marsaskala had been abandoned by many along the years. Whilst we respect the right to an opinion, one cannot but question the real interest of any sudden negative reaction by those who had no previous interest in the area.”

They said the identified area is in a state of abandonment that the community “cannot enjoy”.

Indeed, the football club said that the project will render the countryside more accessible, particularly as a massive national park will be set up around the area.

“A regenerated area, so long as it respects the landscaping and is reasonable, can be a major gain for the locality,” the club said. “One should also consider the fact that there is no other national park in the area known as the South of Malta. This project is giving access to countryside to the people and not the other way round.”