#17: ITL Annual Report 2022: What Went Down?

The following is an annual report for the year 2022, submitted to the Malta Taekwondo Association (MTA) in accordance with clause 6.2.10 of the MTA statute.

I began my second tenure as Director of Santa Venera Taekwondo on the 1st October 2022. This followed a one-year hiatus.

The aims of the club were as follows:

1.       Outreach programmes in schools to promote taekwondo

2.       Satisfactory results at the Invitational Games of the Small States of Europe (October, 2022).

3.       Satisfactory results at the European Cadet Championships held in Malta (November, 2022).

4.       Satisfactory results in one international open (December, 2022).

5.       Satisfactory results in the Malta National Open (December, 2022).

6.       Creating a uniform syllabus leading up to the first club grading (December, 2022).

My return to taekwondo would not have been possible without Ditmir Vodinaj, Malta’s national coach. Thanks to him and his wife, Ela Trushi, the face of SVT changed and was led by a new panel of coaches. It was of utmost importance that this coaching team would be comprised of individuals with significant fighting experience. I can honestly say that we are more than lucky, in that regard.

Together with Ditmir and Ela, the ITL set up training programs in schools as an extra-curricular activity. Chiswick House School being one example. Of course, the ITL’s role in the National Sports School (NSS) could not be ignored. From October, I became a NSS Coach together with Ditmir.

After rebranding to what is now the Iron Taekwondo League (ITL), a website was set up (www.irontkdleague.com) with a standardised grading syllabus. This syllabus was modelled in accordance with the one proposed by the MTA and put together by Sri Lankan Masters Priyantha Kumara (Dan VI) and Zheng Qi (Dan VI).

After dividing the Kids Classes into smaller groups, it allowed me to prepare for what became the largest grading in SVT/ITL history with 36 candidates in total.

When Malta called for our participation at the Invitational Games of the Small States, we answered. ITL fielded athletes Michela Scerri, Aly Cassar, Dwayne Micallef, Jean Schembri, Zach Zammit and Saydou Diao. All of them hit the podium, with three golds, two silvers and one bronze: the highest medal haul among all clubs in Malta. Michela’s gold made her a semi-finalist for a SportMalta award. Her achievement also earned her a Malta Olympic Committee (MOC) award.

In November, the ITL attended a training camp led by former Germany national coach Carlos Estevez and Spanish national coach Marco Carrera. Almost all athletes of the ITL sparring team – including myself and Ditmir – participated in this event. In the same week, coaches Vladan Nikodijevic (Serbia) and Marco Carrera visited the ITL premises and conducted together with ITL.

These preparations served to help ITL athletes better prepare for their next challenge, because it was a big one. In November, Malta hosted a European Championship for the first time ever. ITL athletes Michela and Aly fought at the tournament.

Both lost their first respective bouts. Regardless, this ‘baptism of fire’ heightened their resolve. Wins at elite level do not come easy. But given time, effort, dedication and patience, I have full faith that they will reach a level which we have never seen before, in Malta. The same could be said for our up-and-coming youngsters at kid level (10 – 12 years) and younger.

The MTA later called its member clubs to participate at the Malta National Open, held in December. An event made better with the inclusion of athletes hailing from France, Libya, Latvia, Estonia and Italy. The enrollment of foreign athletes catered for the lack of locals hitting the mat. Nevertheless, ITL fielded the largest contingent. 25 athletes in total (50% of the club member-base). One must also note that it was our club who fielded the largest contingent of volunteers that manned not only the national open, but the European Championship too.

Although there is always room for improvement, satisfactory results were achieved. Especially for athletes who competed against other national players. ITL’s Saydou and Jean were probably the most prominent examples, having competed against France and Libya respectively.

A training camp led by Master Rida Raachdi followed the national open. There, ITL athletes (who again formed the largest local contingent) got the chance to mix it up with national players and their coaches. They even attended a referee seminar delivered by International Referee Christine Nguyen (Dan V).

In December, ITL hit the Brussels International Open with a team of five players. In this tournament, Michela and Jean walked away with a well-earned gold medal. Meanwhile, Marija Nikolikj and Robin Zammit came home with silver.

It is important to note that the above took place in just three months. Now, three months into the next year, one can already see our ambitious agenda taking shape.

On behalf of the ITL, I look forward to continue working hand-in-hand with the MTA. To help athletes reach their full potential. To see them compete and carry Malta’s name forward. I look forward to seeing our athletes make their dreams come true. To see them lead future generations onto further success. And on this note, I would like to thank the MTA for its patience, dedication and everlasting support.