Not many will remember football in Malta in the 1950s and 1960s. In those days, MARIO AZZOPARDI was a well-known name in local football circles, especially at Valletta, where he became a hero overnight at a tender age. He had a scoring mania as he was always in the exact spot at the right time to knock the ball into the net – either with his head or with his foot – it seemed to make no difference for him. It is surprising that a man of his calibre got just a glimpse of the national team jersey. Yet, he also had a successful stint in Australia with Melita Eagles and was the only Maltese player to play for a Sydney XI in a friendly against England’s Derby County.

Profile

Date of birth: 29 December 1940, at Rabat.

Education: Primary School at Baviera, Valletta, and later attended De la Salle College for his secondary education.

Sporting career: His first playing days were at the Catholic Action at Valletta, when still between 10 and 12 years old. Later, he joined the amateur club Rovers United which is still active today. From there, he moved on to Valletta FC and made his debut in the top division (then the first division) when only 15 years old in a match against Birkirkara. He soon became known for his scoring feats, both with his head and with his feet – probably he scored more goals with his head!

He was also selected to join the national team squad on several occasions and managed to play for Malta around six times, though, in those days, the national team was not so active as it is today. He played for Valletta at all levels – in one of his younger years, he turned out for the senior side, the reserves, the under-21 and the minor strings, sometimes playing two to three times a week.

Later in his career, he moved on to Australia, where he played for the club managed by the Maltese, Melita Eagles, also gaining recognition by the state of Sydney after being selected to play for the Sydney XI in a match against England’s Derby Co. He had to cut short his stay in Australia after breaking his arm in a bad fall. He came back home to play again for Valletta, but after a fall in a match against Tottenham at the Gzira Stadium, he decided to call it a day.

Awards and achievements: While with Valletta, he won the league twice, the FA Trophy twice as well, and several other competitions, including the Cassar Cup and Scicluna Cup. In season 1958/59, he finished as top scorer of the Maltese first division with 21 goals to his credit in just 12 matches (he did not play in the other two).

Pastimes: Mario still enjoys playing snooker and billiards at his favourite La Vallette Band Club in Republic Street, Valletta. He also used to play in the MBSA’s third division in past years. He also won the club’s cup in his category for three times. But in the past two years, he has also enjoyed another sport – fishing.

Family: Mario is married to Marlene. They have two children – Paul and Claire.

Mario Azzopardi was one of those few strikers with the knack for goal. Once, the late Tony Nicholl – considered by all football lovers who remember him play, as the best ever footballer Malta has ever produced – had told him that he (Nicholl) could not understand why Mario could not find a place in the national team, considering his great talents.

Azzopardi says that he started his career when still a student at The Baviera School in Valletta. “I was spotted by one of the teachers, Mr Mercieca, who told me to make an extra effort in physical exercise. I used to have sessions alone during school hours when I was between 10 and 12 years old. Those days, in school football, I used to score seven, eight and even 10 goals a match. I also used to frequent the Catholic Action in Valletta, but was not allowed to visit any sort of club. In fact, when I joined Valletta FC, I was almost given the sack by the Catholic Action! I was also a player for Rovers United – a team which still exists till today.

“I started playing for Valletta Minors probably in season 1955/56. I was only 15 years old when I made my debut in the City senior string. And what a day that was! It was a match against Birkirkara. We were 3-1 down at half time and I scored twice in the second half to earn a point for the club,” he said.

Valletta fans, who used to fill a large slice of the old Gzira stadium, were saying that “a star is born”. Added Azzopardi: “They already knew that I used to score a lot of goals at Rovers. But I must say I was also lucky because I was always at the right place and at the right time.

“But I was shy and never took any sort of initiative as some players do even today. One day, thinking that our match was on the Sunday, I was playing snooker at La Vallette BC, when Valletta committee members came into the playing hall, and amid some hard words, I was bundled into a taxi where I changed into my football gear, and drove me to the stadium, to play a match against Floriana. They were very angry with me, but everything was forgotten after the match in which I scored twice.”

Azzopardi was that kind of player who remained cool on every occasion, even when taking penalties. “I was never excited, even if I played against some all-time greats as was Louis Theobald of Hibernians, for example. He was the most intelligent centre half I ever played against. I always considered football as a sport. I played just for fun and we had nothing of the pressure which exists today,” he added.

Soon after gaining his regular place among the seniors, Azzopardi also made the headlines for becoming probably the first player ever to have played for his club in all its four teams – the seniors, reserves, under-21s and minors – in one season. “Yes, on many occasions, I played two to three matches a week, depending on the fixtures. And I scored four times in a match several times. In one season, I was top scorer with Frankie Zammit. We scored 20 goals each to help Valletta win the league in 1957/58. The season after, I again finished top scorer, with 21 goals in just 12 matches, as I missed two games after a dispute with the committee,” he added.

One thing which still frustrates Azzopardi is the fact that he only played around six times for Malta. “I was always the understudy of Floriana striker Tony Cauchi. Coach Joe Griffiths used to select me, but I was rarely given the opportunity to prove myself at the top level, even if in those days, the national team was rarely in action.”

Apart from Theobald, Azzopardi played alongside several other top class players, including Publius Demanuele of Floriana, Joe Cini (very strong), Lolly Borg (very intelligent), Sammy Nicholl (very fast), Josie Urpani (very intelligent), Wanese Borg (skillful) and the best goalkeeper ever Tommy Taylor.

One of his most memorable matches in Malta was in season 1958/59. “My goal in the final minute against Hibernians gave Valletta their second title. I was given a sum of Lm200 for that goal. And that was quite a sum those days.”

His biggest disappointment in his career was the fact that he was just a reserve in the national squad. “I always felt I should have been an automatic choice,” he said.

Asked who inspired him to play the game, Azzopardi quickly referred to Salvinu Schembri as his idol. “He was another great player. He used to be fantastic on the field of play, but I never played with him as he had already left Valletta when I started playing for them,” he said.

The prolific striker was still 22 years old when in 1962, he was spotted by Melita Eagles of Sydney, Australia, who requested his services from Valletta. “Till then, I had won everything there was for grabs in Maltese football – with Valletta. I used to love playing in front of a packed-to-capacity stadium. We used to have 15,000-20,000 crowds frequently, especially for the top matches,” he said.

And he added: “Then I decided to go to Australia in 1963, when I was only 22. It was a great experience over there. On one occasion, I was also selected to play for the Sydney Selection against the English club Derby County. I was the only Maltese selected. At Melita, those days, there were also Dayney, formerly of Sliema, and former Valletta winger Joe “Ginger” Zammit.

“In Australia, I scored many goals, but never finished as top scorer. I helped the club win promotion and we beat George Cross 2-0 (my goals) in our first encounter. At one moment, an Italian club had made an offer for my services, but Melita were reluctant to see me leaving the club and requested a fantastic sum which was turned down by the Italians. Then I broke my arm and had to be operated on three times. It was my last match there as in 1969, I decided to return to Malta. Here, I started playing again for Valletta, but during a friendly against Tottenham, I fell awkwardly once again and decided to call it a day after eight months.”