Outgoing President Daniel Tabone reflects on achievements in governance, coaching education, women’s handball, beach handball and grassroots development.
The Maltese handball community has marked the end of a presidency centred on strengthening the sport’s foundations, raising technical standards and creating sustainable pathways for future growth.
Outgoing Malta Handball Association President Daniel Tabone reflected on the key milestones achieved during his tenure, highlighting significant progress in governance, coaching education, national team development and grassroots participation. Among the standout achievements was the historic qualification of Malta’s men’s beach handball team for the 2025 European Championship.
Strengthening the Association
One of the administration’s main priorities was the modernisation of the Association’s statute and legal framework, alongside the restructuring of domestic competitions to better support the sport’s development.
Technical development also remained a major focus. Four European Handball Federation (EHF) expert coaches visited Malta during Tabone’s presidency, including three within the past six months, helping to enhance the education and development of local coaches.
Another notable milestone was the return of the women’s national team to European competition, marking its first participation in an EHF event in more than a decade and signalling continued progress in women’s handball.
Close collaboration with the Government of Malta and Sport Malta ensured sustained funding for technical programmes while also improving access to suitable training and competition facilities for clubs and national teams.
Historic Success in Beach Handball
Beach handball enjoyed a remarkable transformation through improved management and strategic partnerships.
The men’s national team achieved a historic qualification for the 2025 EHF Beach Handball EURO, a landmark accomplishment that reflected years of investment and development.
The women’s beach handball national team was also established and produced encouraging performances over the past two summers, building valuable momentum ahead of the Mediterranean Beach Games in 2027.
Tabone paid tribute to the Maltese Olympic Committee for its increasing financial and technical support, describing its contribution as instrumental to the discipline’s growth.
Investing in Grassroots Development
In September 2025, Malta became the smallest European nation to sign the EHF Grassroots Charter, underlining the Association’s commitment to developing the sport at youth level.
The agreement forms a key part of the Association’s long-term Master Plan for grassroots development and has already contributed to a significant increase in Mini Handball participation. According to the Association, current participation trends provide strong encouragement for the future of the sport.
Looking Back
Reflecting on his presidency, Tabone acknowledged that the role brought both successes and challenges. He recognised that difficult decisions and demanding moments were inevitable but maintained that every effort had been guided by the best interests of Maltese handball and its long-term development.
