ALFRED Vella is counting down to the time of his life.
In less than eight weeks, Mr Vella will be representing his home country, Malta, in lawn bowls.
The 63-year-old St Albans resident is over the moon after qualifying last December for the Commonwealth Games in March.
It is the first time that Malta is being represented in lawn bowls.
“It’s like winning Tattslotto,” Mr Vella said.
“Not many 63-year-olds play in a competition like this – it’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance for me.”
Mr Vella migrated from Malta in 1967 and said he is proud to be representing his home country.
His interest in the sport was sparked while watching black and white television in the 1960s.
“I was very intrigued in the way the bowl turns. In my country our bowls are called bocce – you just throw it straight and it goes straight,” Mr Vella said.
Mr Vella has been playing lawn bowls for 11 years.
