Maltese and Italian Masters clash to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Viola Club Malta

The Viola Club Malta is this year celebrating the 50th anniversary since its inception, and is organising a number of activities for all members of the Viola Club Malta and all supporters of ACF Fiorentina to commemorate the event.

One of the most significant events is a match to be played on Sunday 27 May between Malta Masters and Glorie Viola.

Former well known Maltese national team players are included in the squad to face Glorie Viola, amongst whom will be also well known former Fiorentina players of the past.

The Malta squad

Goalkeepers: John Bonello, Raymond Mifsud.

Defenders: Norman Buttigieg, Silvio Vella, Jeffrey Chetcuti, Brian Said.

Midfielders: Ray Vella, Gilbert Agius, Nicky Saliba, David Camilleri, Guzi Xuereb.

Strikers: Carmel Busuttil, Michael Degiorgio, Joe Curmi, Joe Zarb, Leonard Farrugia and Vince Magro.

The Glorie Viola squad

Among the Glorie Viola squad players are goalkeeper Sebastien Frey, defenders Alberto Di Chiara, Aldo Firicano, Alberto Malusci, midfielders Giancarlo Antognoni and Maurizo Restelli and strikers Luca Cecconi and Marco Nappi.

Other players may include Stefano Carobbi, Renato Buso, Antonio di Gennaro, Francesco Baiano and Enrico Chiesa.

The match is to be played this evening at the Centenary Stadium, Ta’ Qali, starting at 6pm.

There will be no admission charge, but donations in aid of Puttinu Cares will be most welcome.

The Club

Viola Club Malta was formed way back in 1968 by a group of young Maltese enthusiasts of ACF Fiorentina.

It was one of the first Viola supporters club outside Italy and, to date, it boasts respect among ACCVC (Associazione Centro Coordinamento Viola Clubs) and ACF Fiorentina itself. The club was kept very active throughout these fifty years, organising regular social activities as well as trips to Flo- rence to watch live football matches involving our beloved ACF Fiorentina.

Event’s history

The idea to organise something important for the 50th Anniversary of the VIOLA CLUB MALTA began about two years ago.

It happened that in February 2017 a group of five persons took part in a five day tour in Firenze organised by Alexander Damato (Honorary President of the Viola Club).

During that holiday, on Thursday 23rd this group had a meeting with ACF FIORENTINA’s legend Giancarlo Antognoni in the morning at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.

Besides the Maltese group, Giuseppe Urso (Honorary President of the Associazione Centro Coordinamento Viola Club) and Marina Mecheri (Coordinator of the ACCVC) were also present. After an hour talk with Antognoni, the group went to the premises of the ACCVC which are situated in the vicin- ity of the Stadium.

Signor Urso took us upstairs and he opened a room where many pictures of exFIORENTINA players were exposed.

He told us that this room is the premises of the ASSOCIAZIONE GLORIE VIOLA whose President is another legendary VIOLA player, the Swedish Kurt Hamrin, a very prolific striker.

Then, Ms. Mecheri told us that soon the Vice President of this Association Moreno Roggi, an- other ex-Fiorentina player was coming to meet us. In fact, Mr Roggi joined us a few minutes later and we all had the opportunity to speak to him.

We mentioned to him that in 2018 our VIOLA CLUB MALTA was to celebrate its 50th Anniversary (the notary legal act was signed on the 20th May, 1968).

He soon came up with the idea to organise something important for this memorable event and he continued by suggesting a charity football match between his Association and a Maltese masters team. From that day onwards, Alexander Damato and Alfred Stafrace (two very active pensioners) started to work for this event and later the President and Committee members of the VIOLA CLUB MALTA joined in to the aim of having a very successful Anniversary.