Head Coach / Director - Darren
Darren Bezzina, born in 1991, is one of the founders and head coach of AES club. He started training at the age of 14 in Karate and practiced martial arts for nearly 14 years, getting a black belt in Shotokan Karate and Tang Soo Do. He has various qualifications and experience with both children and adults, having taught in various schools as a PE teacher for the past eight years and worked as a physical trainer for the past twelve years. His qualifications include:
- MSc in Strength and Conditioning
- MEd in Physical Education
- Level 1 in Coaching Gymnastics
- BSc in Sports and Exercise Science
- BTEC Level 3- Development, Coaching, and Fitness
- BTEC Level 2- Coaching and Fitness
- Level 1 in Coaching Athletics
- Level 1 in Coaching Weightlifting
- 2nd Dan in Tang Soo Do
- 1st Dan in Shotokan Karate
- Evolve 9- Coaching Kids Tennis
- Level 1 in Handball Coaching
- First Aid Course
Head Coach Reuben
Reuben Bonnici, born in 1989, is one of the founders of AES club. He is qualified as a coach at MCAST with a BTEC National Diploma in Sport Development, Coaching, and Fitness. He worked for 9 years with special needs students as an LSE. He also worked in different schools in various sports programmes including football, basketball, athletics, hockey, and fundamentals using fun games. Now he works in middle schools and teaches ICT.
At AES, he helps young students to develop the fundamentals of different sports through fun games and exercises. Having worked as an LSE, he also specializes in helping students integrate and be part of a group and supporting students with challenging behaviors.
Deanna - Manager / Director
Deanna Camilleri born in 1993 is our administrator and backbone of this club. When she was younger, she used to practice Gymnastics as a hobby and she simply loved it! Throughout the years, although she stopped, she still had a passion for flexibility and stretching classes which she still does today. She is simply in love with fitness and sports. Her role with AES is as an administrator and to make sure that everything is under control for the coaches, students, and parents. With her experience in Office Management and Project Management, she helps with AES organization. This is a very important role and she does this with great passion.
Head Coach (Team 2) Daniela
After starting gymnastics training at the age of 16 years, Daniela, born in 1989, immediately fell in love with the sport and trained for a further 10 years. She has been a part of the AES Gymnastics coach team for many years and is also a qualified kindergarten teacher. She strives to teach young gymnasts new skills in a safe environment and most of all, loves to watch her students enjoying themselves.
Head Coach Naomi
Naomi Falzon, born in 1992, has now been coaching gymnastics students with AES for many years. As well as specialising in dance routines and gymnastics, her full-time profession is that of a Kindergarten teacher, having also previously worked as a Learning Support Educator for two years. In addition to having an O-Level in Physical Education, she also successfully completed the British Association of Teachers of Dancing (BATD) examinations and have also attended multiple training camps at Pineapple Dance Studio and performing arts in London as part of Dancel Dance Studio – a School of Dance based in Fgura. All these experiences have helped in her coaching career, and she is very much in love with this job!
Head Coach (youngest groups) Marica
Marica Farrugia, born in 1987, has been working with children, for the past 15 years as a sports instructor, child carer, and now as a Kindergarten teacher. Since she was a little girl, she always loved gymnastics and also used to compete in secondary school. She has a National Diploma in Sports Development and fitness. Her love for the sport, the skills and experiences she got from her former jobs helped in her coaching.
Head Coach (Team 2) Kyla
Kyla Caruana Scicluna, born in 2005, has now been coaching gymnastics for four years at AES, where she formerly trained. She is currently completing a degree in primary education. She has undertaken many disciplines, none of which have ever given her the satisfaction and pleasure gymnastics has. Kyla loves working with children and takes part in various activities which involve helping children to grow and learn.
Coach Jessica
Jessica Muscat, born in 1997, an environmental conscious person during her full time who has recently acquired a passion for gymnastics. Her experience is currently focused on dance, where she has been dancing since she was 3 years old with Rhythm and dance school where she received two best in class awards in 2003 and in 2004. Currently she dances with YADA College of Dance and has been for the past 10 years. She mostly studies Modern Jazz, and use to also practice Ballet when she was young. This was always her way to express her feelings and gain her optimism and confidence. Her main goal as a coach is to help new gymnasts feel the same passion for this sport as she does while pushing them forward to reach their ultimate goal.
Coach Martina
Martina was born in 2004 and began training in gymnastics at the age of 6, continuing her athletic journey until she was 16. Although she no longer trains competitively, her passion for the sport remains strong, which inspired her to begin coaching. She is a qualified Level 1 gymnastics coach and has been coaching for the past six years. Martina is currently in her final year of a Bachelor’s degree in Business Enterprise and aspires to launch her own business in the near future.
Head Coach (Team 1) Elaine
Elaine Zahra, born in 1984, a proud mum to a beautiful girl. She started gymnastics when she was 8 years old and continued until she was 16. During those years she competed on different apparatus and achieved amazing results; she came first and second on floor routine, first on beam, and first on vault.
At 16, she moved on to waterpolo and football, and for many years she trained passionately in the gym and boxing. But no matter what sport she tried, gymnastics has always stayed in her heart. It’s the foundation of all sports, and it shaped the athlete and person she is today.
She completed the Gymnastics Level 1 Coaching Course, and she also passed the EQF Level 3 course at MF Academy, continuing to grow and develop as a coach. Coaching isn’t always easy every day brings a new challenge 😃 but she truly loves what she does.
Seeing kids grow, gain confidence, learn new skills, and enjoy gymnastics means everything to me.
You don’t need an Olympic medal to teach.
You just need passion, patience, and a real love for the sport..and I have plenty of that 🤸♀️✨
Coach Grace-Anne
Grace-Anne Buhagiar was born in 1994. At a young age, she used to practice athletics and football.
Although she stopped, throughout the years she remained active in strength and fitness training.
Grace-Anne is qualified with a degree in Health and Social Care Management and furthered her
studies with a Master’s Degree in Youth Justice. In the past nine years, she worked with persons
having disabilities and currently is working in the elderly sector.
Coach Celeste
Celeste Galea, born in 2003, is a sport student at MCAST currently studying for a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Sport, Exercise and Health. Fitness and sport have always been a big part of her life as she started training at the age of 8 were she practiced Volleyball for about 5 years. This then led her to start training gymnastics with AES and she loved it ever since. After training with AES for a few years she started coaching younger students as well. Apart from being a qualified person trainer, she also has experience with young children as is currently working as a play worker.
Coach Georgette
Georgette born in 1988 and mother of 2 kids, was always in love with fitness and sports, competing in various school competitions in Netball and Volleyball, however it was after having her first son, that she invested on her fitness on a more regular basis. With a wide range of exercises from strength training and cardio to yoga classes and pilates workouts she enjoys sharing her passion for fitness with others.
Gymnastics is a fundamental sport, which at a very young age helps them learn how to move, balance and increase their strength. Her objective is to help these youngsters reach their fitness goals by making exercise enjoyable for everyone regardless of age or ability level.
She believes in the power of working together and strives to provide an inspiring environment to these youngsters. Her goal is to help them learn, grow, and be empowered by their own abilities who can bring their unique skills, and doing it all while still keeping it fun and interesting!
Coach Aitana
Aitana was born in 1995 and began practicing artistic gymnastics at the age of 9, competing in Spain throughout her athletic journey until she was 14. Gymnastics played an important role in her life, giving her discipline, perseverance, and a passion for movement.
Although she no longer competes, her interest in sports remains very present. She is currently living in Malta, where she has been for almost two years, and works at a gym—an environment that allows her to stay connected to the sports world and continue growing professionally within it.
Coach Petra
Petra was born in 2005 and has always had a strong passion for sports and fitness. She also loves working with children and enjoys helping create a fun, positive learning environment. She started training gymnastics at the age of seven, and continued for about six years. Although she no longer practices the sport herself, her love for gymnastics led her to start coaching. Petra is currently studying at the University of Malta and also trains Martial Arts, where she has earned her black belt in Tang Soo Do. Her love for gymnastics, combined with the skills and experience in training she has gained over the years, allows her to coach with confidence, patience, and dedication, creating a motivating and supportive atmosphere for every child she works with.
Coach Mandy
(Conditioning Coach)
Mandy Cassar Conti is presently an Ethics teacher in Secondary School. She has been working as a teacher for the past 14 years. Discipline, exercise and maintaining a healthy lifestyle have always been a priority in her life and she has been exercising regulary since she was 12.
Her main areas are hit training, circuit training using body weight and yoga.
She has a passion in teaching students what she learned throughout these years!
Coach Jeanea
Born in 2003, Jeanea grew up surrounded by movement and creativity, beginning ballet lessons from the very first day alongside her cousin. She formally trained in ballet from the age of three until she was thirteen, and during those years she also enjoyed participating in ballroom and Latin dancing, as well as dancing in carnival events. At thirteen, she began training in netball, discovering a new passion for sport that complemented her long-standing love for dance. Participating in sports and watching football quickly became some of her favourite hobbies. Over the past few years, she have worked closely with children in childcare settings and Skolasajf, and she also had the opportunity to teach ballet to young learners. Now, she is excited to continue sharing her love for movement by teaching gymnastics to children.
