Organised by Arsenal Malta Supporters Club (AMSC) in collaboration with Emirates Airline and with the support of the English Premier Football Club Arsenal FC, the Challenge is becoming a platform for talented young footballers. 

This sporting annual event sees some of Malta’s top budding players compete for the title of the Emirates Airline Young Footballer Challenge 2008. Youth Nursery Football Clubs in Malta and Gozo are invited to register two of their best young female and male footballers, born in 1995 and 1996, (Under 11 and Under 12).

During the event’s briefing held for the Youth Nurseries at the AMSC premises in Santa Venera, the Club’s Chairman, Richard Felice Pace, announced that Arsenal FC were delighted with their participation at last year’s event and have already committed their support for this year’s edition. 

The Premier Club will be sending two senior official youth coaches to Malta to oversee the event and assist the adjudicating panel, which will be made up of three established Maltese coaches. 

Mr Felice Pace said that the Arsenal Supporters Club believes that this event provides an opportunity for young aspiring footballers to test their soccer skills individually rather than as a team. 

He said: “The Challenge is designed to develop individual talent of the young 11 and 12 year olds registered with Nursery Clubs in Malta and Gozo.  Each child competes among the best players of same age group from every participating Youth Nursery. We augur that as many Nursery Clubs as possible will take up this challenge and participate. The two Nursery clubs representing the two overall winners will each receive handsome prize money.”