The Sports Desk by Times of Malta

Ħamrun Spartans' historic UEFA Conference League qualification has not only caught the imagination of many football fans but also instilled the belief that Maltese clubs can dream of playing at the highest level on the continent. Club president Joseph Portelli sat down on the Sportsdesk podcast and vowed that his team’s success has increased his motivation to steer the team to higher objectives.

ASA president Karl Izzo has announced he is seeking a second term in office at the local governing body of aquatic sport. Izzo spoke to the Sportsdesk team about his plans to overhaul the governing body's administrative format, plans to take over the national pool, and the successful bid to host prestigious aquatic events in Malta next year.

Malta continues to disappoint in international football, and a recent string of bad results has reignited debate among fans about why the country is making little progress when compared to other small countries such as the Faroe Islands. Former men's national team coach Pippo Psaila sat with Valhmor Camilleri on the SportsDesk podcast to discuss the problems holding Maltese football back.

Maltese football is just weeks away from a major change with the introduction of the Football Video Support - a form of video assistance that is less resource-intensive than the VAR used in major leagues. Alan Mario Sant, who chairs the Malta Football Association's Referees Committee, sat down on the SportsDesk podcast to discuss the impact of technology in Maltese football, referees' preparation and the challenges they face throughout a football season.

Haley Bugeja may just be 21 years old, but she's already accomplished more than most football veterans.Fresh from signing a new three-year deal with Italian giants Inter, Bugeja sat down with Gianluca Lia to discuss her career so far and why she thinks the sky's the limit for the Malta Women national team.