In an interview with Herman Grech of the Sunday
Times Of Malta today, Norman Darmanin Demajo is quoted as saying "If the leader of your team isn't playing there's something missing. So in my opinion, you shouldn't be the captain."
Mifsud, Malta's all-time top scorer, who let his contract at Coventry City expire, has only been contracted to a club for two of the last 20 months.
The national captain and our star player Michael Mifsud has only been contracted to a club for two of the past 20 months or so. Does it worry you that our captain has ended up in this state?
Not only does it worry me, it saddens me. From what I hear, Mifsud has had offers from various clubs but refused them.
Offers from local clubs or foreign?
Foreign. Mifsud has proven he can make it. If you can make it in England you can make it everywhere. It's one of the toughest leagues in the world. You need physical and have mental strength - like (Sheffield United striker) Daniel Bogdanovic, who's also made it.
Mifsud had the opportunities. But for reasons only he can explain, whenever he was offered a contract, he didn't accept it. He was always waiting for something better.
Football moves fast. It doesn't wait. So yes, it pains me, it worries me and it saddens me that a player with Mifsud's talent doesn't have a club.
Do you think greed was to blame?
It's not fair to judge unless I know the facts.
But as MFA president, isn't it in your interest that the national team captain is playing for a club?
Yes, it's in my interest but it's not exactly under my control. So I can't tell Mifsud he should sign a contract with this club or the other. He is no fool. He knows what he wants. He knows where he can make it.
Until 10 days ago he was offered a very good contract with an American professional team but as far as I know he didn't sign or didn't agree (terms). According to newspapers, other British clubs were interested in him and they didn't agree terms either.
Do you think he should still retain the captain's armband?
No, I don't.
Why?
Because a captain is a leader and not just the guy who wears the armband. Leadership involves a lot of qualities which at the moment (give rise to) prejudice in Mifsud because if the leader of your team isn't playing there's something missing. So in my opinion, he shouldn't be captain.
Did you share your views with the national team coach?
No - because theoretically that's his call. I don't interfere. Whether I agree with it or not is another issue.