Passport mishap forces kit manager to miss flight

The Air Malta flight carrying the Maltese squad for tomorrow's EURO 2004 Group One qualifier against Cyprus, touched down at around 2 a.m. yesterday.

Upon arriving in Larnaca, the Maltese contingent had a somewhat unusual problem to contend with... how to cope without Carmelo Gauci, the everpresent national team's kit manager.

Gauci, better known as 'Busbie' in Maltese football circles, did not travel with the contingent after he reportedly lost his passport.

His absence caused a headache to players and MFA officials as Gauci oversees the arrangements regarding the transport and distribution of all apparel worn by players during overseas trips.

The MFA still tried to sort out the problem yesterday but it looks very unlikely that Gauci will travel to Cyprus in time for tomorrow's qualifier even though a short-term solution has already been found.

A young man who has been acting as kit manager of Division One outfit Naxxar Lions for the past few years, Alex Agius, was on the flight to Cyprus and accepted to lend a helping hand in Gauci's absence.

Sandro Vella, the kit manager of the Malta U-21 squad, has temporarily taken over Gauci's duties.