Ħamrun Spartans’ dream of turning their Victor Tedesco Stadium into a state-of-the-art sports complex moved a step closer on Monday night after the Malta champions signed an agreement with the government that will see the land of the stadium being transferred to the Premier League club on a ground rent for 49 years.
The event was held at the Victor Tedesco Stadium on Tuesday and was attended by Dr Clifton Grima, the Minister of for Education, Sport, Research, and Innovation, Ħamrun Spartans president Joseph Portelli and club CEO Marcel Bonnici as well as other club officials.
“Our vision as a club is that we transform the Victor Tedesco Stadium into a sporting complex from which all the community can benefit. This is because we are planning that all the facilities will be used not only by Ħamrun Spartans but also the club’s nursery as well as school students,” Ħamrun Spartans said in a statement.
“This agreement will give the club the ability to work on the project with peace of mind on his vision to continue to invest on the stadium and continue to create more space for other sporting disciplines such as basketball, futsal, bowls, volleyball as well as beach volleyball among others.
“Ħamrun Spartans Football Club will benefit from a government scheme through which the club will be given a subsidy on the ground rent, similar to what is done with clubs who are given land by the government for sporting use. The subsidised payment of rent will go in a fund, administered by SportMalta, through which the sporting sector will continue to benefit.”
On his part, Joseph Portelli, the Ħamrun Spartans FC president described the agreement as an important step to turn the club into a professional organisation.
“I firmly believe that this agreement is another step forward so that the dream of this administration comes to reality,” Portelli said.
“The Ħamrun community deserves sporting facilities of the highest level that honour not only the Ħamrun Spartans fans but Maltese football in general.”
On his part, Dr Grima said: “This agreement is not only part of the government vision to help in every possible way clubs and sporting clubs, but is an assistance to this vision which forms part of the government’s policy to help associations and sporting clubs to develop their operations.”
On his part, Professor Andrew Decelis, SportMalta chairman, said that this agreement will strengthen the operational system of the club.
“When you have clubs and sporting associations that are strong and stable, these will provide wealth to the Maltese society as well for our kids.”
