New facilities at Sannat Ground inaugurated

 

 

 

New facilities in the first phase of the Sannat Ground project consisting of an artificial turf, a new lighting system and other amenites were inaugurated on Sunday 5th July 2009. This project was co-financed by the MFA, UEFA, the GFA, the Good Causes Fund, the Ministry for Gozo and Sannat Lions.

 

 

During the inauguration ceremony there were several messages. Teddy Bajada, the President of Sannat Lions said that the club's dream of transforming their ground into such an impressive way which befits the modern times, was fulfilled. In order for Sannat Lions to reach this ambition much voluntary work was necessary and in this respect the club treasurer Giovan Buttigieg came for special mention. This club official worked for days on end together with others.

 

 

Bajada also thanked the numerous sponsors for helping out to complete the first phase of the project. He said that the second phase consisting of the construction of new dressing rooms, a multi-purpose hall and a parking area will soon get underway. Meanwhile, the third phase of the project is already being planned. This will consist of a covered stand for the spectators. The Sannat Lions President concluded by saying that this ground will also be available for all the clubs affiliated to the GFA. He thanked MFA President, Dr Joe Mifsud, Giovanna Debono, Minister for Gozo, Tonio Fenech Finance Minister, the GFA and all those who assisted towards the realisation of this project.

 

 

In another message Alvin Grech, President of the Gozo Football Association (GFA), congratulated Sannat Lions for this project which will be of benefit to almost all teams in Gozo. This is because several other championships and competitions can now be held at this venue, amongst which the Under 21 and Under 17 competitions.

 

 

 

In this way a new era will start for football in Gozo whereby all the competitions organised by the GFA will now be played on natural or artificial turf rather than hard, sandy surfaces. For the GFA President this is a very positive element. Meanwhile, he referred to the project currently in hand by his Association which comprises the construction of new dressing rooms and a new VIP area at the Gozo Stadium. The aim is have the Stadium up to the required standard to host international matches. He thanked all those who helped in this first phase of the project.

 

 

 

MFA President, Dr Joe Mifsud said that through his Association's intervention as well as his own, Sannat lions were granted a handsome sum  which could cover the expenses involved in this project. He said that after the inauguration of other facilities in Malta like those at the Centenary Stadium, the Hibernians Stadium, the Hamrun Stadium, and the grounds at Pembroke, Melita and St Patrick, now it was the turn of the Sannat Lions venue in Gozo for work to be done there after they had applied for financial assistance to benefit  from  the UEFA Hat-Trick Programme funds which were supplemented to the same amount by the funding from the MFA.

 

 

 

 

Dr Mifsud expressed his appreciation at the work carried out by the Sannat Lions committee, resulting in a new facility of a high level for Gozitan football. In this way the game will continue to develop on the island. The MFA President ended by saying that now even the GFA will be in a position to benefit from assistance for improving facilities at the Gozo Stadium, and this so that the standards demanded by UEFA can be reached.

 

 

 

In a concluding address  the Minister for Gozo, Giovanna Debono said that the reference of Dr Mifsud regarding the Gozitans' love for football was very true. All this adds to the dedication and work put in by the GFA officials and those of all the clubs, especially that of Sannat Lions. The Minister for Gozo expressed her satisfaction at the realisation of this project which was also assisted by her Ministry despite financial constraints and other limitations. This was also true with regard to assistance to other clubs and associations in their bid to improve their sporting facilities.

 

 

 

Giovanna Debono appealed to everyone to use this facility at Sannat, a football venue which makes Sannat Lions and the GFA proud. She ended by showing her appreciation at the work done by the volunteers who were engaged on this project and appealed so that this concept of voluntary work in Gozo will be put on a firmer basis.

 

 

 

 

After messages the contract between the MFA, the GFA and Sannat Lions was signed by Dr Mifsud, Joseph Gauci, President and General Secretary of the MFA respectively, Alvin Grech, Joe Bajada and George Cini, President, General Secretary and Treasurer of the GFA respectively and Teddy Bajada, Daniel Camilleri and Giovann Buttigieg, respectively President, Secretary and Treasurer of Sannat Lions. Dr Mifsud then presented a cheque for Euro 160,000 to Teddy Bajada.

 

 

 

 

At the end of the ceremony a commemorative plaque to mark the occasion was unveiled by Can. Tarcisio Camilleri, Archpriest of Sannat, after which a football match  was played between the Gozo Champions Sannat Lions and Dingli Swallows, which was won by the Gozitan team by a solitary goal scored by John Camilleri in the second half.

 

 

New Sports Facility at the Sannat Football Ground:

The main recreational facilities at Sannat lie due north of the settlement. The largest area is occupied by a football pitch, which lies adjacent to a playing field. Unfortunately, these recreational facilities are served from the rest of the settlement by a carriageway, which leads to nearby Munxar. Apart from traffic calming measures needed to render pedestrian traffic safer, there is also scope for upgrading of the existing facilities and to introduce visual mitigation measures around them.' This is an extract from the Gozo Local plan.

Scope of the project:

      The facility is mainly used by the Sannat Football Club and has now been given in loan to the same club for 50 years. The facilities provided are very limited and hence the club intends to construct a new complex in order to increase and diverse the services provided. In general, the club plans to re-surface the pitch with artificial turf in the immediate future and build a complex with better facilities (such as more changing rooms), include a gymnasium, a nursery club and a supporters' club. This new complex should provide a better recreational service to the village of Sannat (of which it makes part of) but also to Gozo in general.

Present Facilities:

Present Facilities       The present complex is made up of the pitch (which takes most area) and just a clubhouse on the east side of the stand next to the playing field. In the clubhouse one finds a bar and 2 changing rooms with small shower area. At the South part, a plain boundary wall 11 courses high with a 2.5m fence closes the stand area from the street. The capacity of the stand is 1,400 in total though practically half of this is not used, as the vision of the playing area is impaired with the fence in front. One should note that this playing ground is the second most important after that the main ground in Xewkija and that local league games are played here whenever the other ground cannot be used (either due to excessive rain or natural turf still growing).

Architect Mr. Brian Curmi 

 

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