‘We Don’t Select The Athletes’: Sports Ministry Distances Itself From GSSE Controversy On Foreign Players
Malta’s Sports Ministry has distanced itself from the controversy about the way that athletes are selected for the Games of the Small States of Europe.
This comes after two Maltese table tennis players claimed that Maltese athletes are being sidelined by professional foreign players who are not connected in any way with Malta.
When contacted by Lovin Malta, a spokesman from the Sports Ministry replied very concisely: “The government does not interfere in the selection of athletes”.
A few days back, Andrew Gambina and David Pace said that Maltese competitors are being pushed aside to make way for foreign pros who don’t have anything to do with Malta
Both Gambina and Pace took to social media to lament the state of affairs where investment is made for short-term gains in winning medals instead of in investing in training homegrown youths subsequently into their adulthood for future sustainable performance.
“The foreigners representing Malta, who as I said before, have no connection to the island will be showing up for the games, pocketing a vast sum of money, and leaving thereafter, contributing 0% to Malta and the development of Maltese table tennis,” Gambina said.
Pace also had harsh words for the selection process being used for the GSSE. Claiming that he has been blocked from commenting on SportsDesk he took to social media to air his grievances.
“My personal outlook made simple. I much prefer a native homegrown Maltese winning a Bronze or nearing the medal zone rather than winning a Gold by a mercenary. That way I would know exactly where our level stands and what is needed to improve.”
What do you make of this controversy? Do you agree with Pace and Gambina?
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