Joseph Portelli Resigns as Ħamrun Spartans President with the Goal of Taking to the Field
Construction tycoon Joseph Portelli has made a shocking move by resigning as president of Ħamrun Spartans football club, with the intention of joining the club’s first team as a player.
According to sources Portelli, the 42-year-old has long harbored the dream of playing in Malta’s top football league. Despite being precluded from being registered as a player with the same club as president by Malta Football Association rules, Portelli intends to kit up for the Premier League club.
The move has raised many questions about Portelli’s intentions, and it remains to be seen how the club will react to his resignation. Some have raised concerns about the potential conflict of interest that could arise from having a former president on the field, while others have praised Portelli’s passion for the game.
Portelli has a strong history in football, having previously served as president of Gozitan first division club Nadur Youngsters. In April of last year, he registered as a player for the club and even scored a penalty in a 1-1 draw in their final game of the season. He quit that club in 2020 when he chose to focus his efforts on Ħamrun Spartans.
He was made Spartans president in 2021.
Under Portelli’s leadership, Ħamrun Spartans were crowned champions and followed that up with an impressive run in the Champions League qualification rounds. The club is now seeking to redevelop its stadium and incorporate commercial developments into it. He has insisted that he will not profit from that project, saying income will be ploughed back into the club.
If his plan to play for Ħamrun Spartans is successful, he would be the oldest registered player in Malta’s top division, edging out 41-year-old veteran Michael Mifsud. It is a bold move for Portelli, but one that has the potential to shake up the Maltese football scene.
Only time will tell if his dream of playing in the top league will come true, but one thing is for sure – the football world is watching with bated breath.
Ħamrun will play on Sunday the 29th against Sirens.
