Maltese squad leaves today

Bosnia Herzegovina, Cyprus and Norway are Malta's opponents in a UEFA U-19 Championship mini-tournament to be staged in Cyprus between tomorrow and next Friday.

Mark Miller, Malta's U-19 coach, has called an 18-man squad for the Group Seven event. Jonathan Fenech, who plays for English club Blackpool, was named in the 18-man list.

Horst Heese, the MFA technical director, told The Times that Fenech's selection came about after the U-19 coaching staff had a closer look at the player during a training camp in Malta.

"Fenech is in the Blackpool School of Excellence and also a member of the senior squad. Upon learning that this boy was eligible and willing to play for Malta, we invited him over for a training camp. Fenech came and trained with the team and left quite a positive impression," Heese said.

"On the back of his positive contribution during the training camp, we decided to call him to the squad for this Cyprus tournament," Heese said.

Miller's squad also features a few players with some Premier League experience, the likes of Pietà goalkeeper Andrew Hogg and team-mates Karl Sammut, Silvan Ciscaldi and Cleaven Frendo, Sliema's Josef Mifsud, Mosta defender Ryan Newell and Mauro Brincat of Hamrun Spartans.

The Maltese contingent will fly out to Frankfurt this afternoon before continuing their trip to Cyprus tomorrow. While in Frankfurt, the U-19 squad will also have a training session. Heese is expected to link up with the Maltese contingent in Cyprus on Sunday.

Malta's first assignment is a match against Norway on Sunday at 2.30 p.m. Miller's team then face Bosnia Herzegovina on Tuesday before wrapping up their commitments with a clash against hosts Cyprus on Thursday

The U-19s participation in this mini-tournament means that coach Miller, who is also in charge of the Malta U-21s, will spend most of the next 15 days in Cyprus.

The former Hibs coach is expected to return to Malta soon after the second match against Bosnia on Tuesday so as to oversee the Malta U-21s' final preparations before their departure to Cyprus on Sunday, November 17. Heese will take over the coaching duties for the U-19s' final match against Cyprus on Thursday.

Malta's U-21 team are due to meet Cyprus in a UEFA U-21 qualifier on Tuesday, November 19. On November 20, Malta's senior team play against Cyprus in a EURO 2004 Group One qualifier.

Malta's U-19 squad: Goalkeepers - A. Hogg (Pietà H.), B. Paris (Birkirkara). Defenders - S. Cappitta, K. Sammut (Pietà H.); A. Formosa (Msida SJ); J. Mifsud (Sliema W.); A. Muscat (Lija A.); R. Newell (Mosta); B. Sciberras (San Gwann).

Midfielders - M. Borg (Birkirkara); M. Brincat (Hamrun S.); S. Ciscaldi, D. O'Flaherty (Pietà H.); M. Martin (Sliema W.); C. Micallef (Hibs). Forwards - T. Caruana (St Patrick); J. Fenech (Blackpool); C. Frendo (Pietà H.).

Banned Barbara out of Cyprus trip

Floriana's versatile midfielder Etienne Barbara has been omitted from the Malta U-21 squad that will travelling to Cyprus for the November 19 UEFA qualifier.

The 21-year-old Barbara was sent home from training with the Malta U-21s after an incident with coach Mark Miller a few weeks ago. Horst Heese, the Malta FA technical director, said that Barbara's ban from the U-21 squad is due to be discussed again with the Malta FA president very soon.

Heese also confirmed that Barbara will not be considered for selection for the Cyprus qualifier.

Malta's U-21 team have lost their opening three matches in the UEFA U-21 qualifiers... away vs Slovenia 0-1; home vs Israel 0-1; home vs France 0-3.