Held gutted by 'amateurism' of Maltese football

Sigfried Held, Malta's coach, was not in the best of moods after a training session at Ta' Qali yesterday morning.

The absence of Miguel and Adrian Mifsud left Held ruing the 'amateurism' in Maltese football only two days before the national team play their sixth EURO 2004 Group One qualifier at home to Slovenia, tomorrow at 8.30 p.m.

Hibernians' Mifsud duo are carrying injuries but Held insisted that they should have reported for training just as well.

"Miguel and Adrian have skipped training today," Held said.

Having slammed the players' attitude in their 6-0 roasting against France, Held also felt he had to complain about the restriction imposed on the Maltese squad over the use of the National Stadium before an international match.

"Malta must rank as the only country in the world where the national football team are not allowed to train at their own stadium before an international match," Held lamented.

Meanwhile, Simon Vella, the Airdrie defender who is likely to be confirmed at centre-half tomorrow, was the only foreign-based player to attend training yesterday morning as the other three, Stefan Giglio (Lokomotiv Sofia), Michael Mifsud (Kaiserslautern) and Daniel Bogdanovic (Cherno More Varna), reported for international duty in the evening.

As is his norm, Held finalised his 18-man list after the evening training session before the squad moved to the Coastline Hotel where they will spend the next two days in preparation for tomorrow's qualifier against Slovenia.

World Cup 2002 finalists Slovenia beat Malta 3-0 in Ljubljana in September.

Miguel Mifsud was dropped from the squad along with Sliema's David Camilleri, Jonathan Holland, of Floriana, and Pietà Hotspurs' Malcolm Licari. Jeffrey Chetcuti is unavailable because of suspension while midfielder Joe Brincat returns after missing the France qualifier due to a thigh injury.

Birkirkara powerhouse Chucks Nwoko is ranked doubtful due to a recurrent leg pain.

Slovenia's senior squad, headed by coach Bojan Prasnikar, are expected to land in Malta this morning. They will train at the National Stadium at 7.30 p.m.

Malta are bottom of Group One of the EURO 2004 qualifying campaign with no points from five matches.

With six points from the three matches they played so far, Slovenia are second, nine points adrift of leaders France.

Malta's 18-man squad

Goalkeepers: Saviour Darmanin (Pietà), Mario Muscat (Hibernians).

Defenders: William Camenzuli (Birkirkara), David Carabott (Valletta), Ian Ciantar (Sliema Wanderers), Darren Debono (Valletta), Luke Dimech (Birkirkara), Carlo Mamo (Sliema Wanderers), Brian Said (Sliema Wanderers), Simon Vella (Airdrie, Scotland).

Midfielders: Joe Brincat (Sliema Wanderers),Stefan Giglio (Lok. Sofia, Bulgaria), Noel Turner (Sliema Wanderers).

Forwards: Daniel Bogdanovic (Cherno More Varna, Bulgaria), George Mallia (Birkirkara), Adrian Mifsud (Hibernians), Michael Mifsud (Kaiserslautern, Germany), Chucks Nwoko (Birkirkara).