Heese-Buzu tandem for national team

Horst Heese has been reappointed Malta national coach but his brief stretches beyond the normal management of a football team.

Heese will combine his new coaching duties with his role of Malta FA technical director. He has also been handed the onus of grooming his new assistant Carmel Busuttil into a full-fledged coach as the MFA want the former Malta skipper to take sole charge of the national team within two years.

The decision to pass the reins of the national squad to a coaching duo was announced by association president Dr Joe Mifsud yesterday.

"Once the discussion to retain the training scheme was resolved, we felt that the time was ripe to have a Maltese coach involved in this set-up," Mifsud said.

"Our focus turned to the best player Malta has ever had, one who has also played professional football abroad - Carmel Busuttil.

"We felt though that for a soldier to become a general, one needs a lot of practice. It was mutually agreed with Busuttil that Heese will be appointed coach to work closely with him. Our long-term plan is that, in two years' time, Busuttil will take charge of the national team."

Heese succeeds fellow Germany compatriot Siegfried Held whose contract ended after Malta's 2-2 draw with Israel last month.

Mifsud is confident that Busuttil's appointment is a positive step as he "still enjoys the respect of the players and the sporting public."

According to reports emerging from last week's executive committee meeting, Busuttil was also mentioned as a potential Malta U-21 coach in the very near future but Mifsud refused to comment. He only said Busuttil wants to honour his present commitments.

Busuttil is currently the head coach of the Buzu Soccer School and Mifsud's comments imply that, at least for the next two years, he will keep that job at the school while fulfiling the new role with the MFA.

"The relationship between Busuttil and Heese goes back several years. In fact it was Heese who helped Busuttil move to Belgium. This is a four-year project and we are optimistic that the plan will work out," Mifsud said.

The association did not have to consider other candidates for the job once Busuttil accepted to be involved, Mifsud added.

"Busuttil was my no.1 target because he is the best candidate in the local camp given his international experience," he said. "We did not have to look at other options."

Heese enjoyed a three-year spell at the helm of the national team between 1988 and 1991 before an acrimonious exit led to a legal wrangle with the MFA which was eventually settled a few years ago.

He said: "Our ultimate goal is to have a Maltese coach in charge in future. We have to help Busuttil become a good coach. He already holds the UEFA A licence and I must say he did very well so far. Moreover, everyone knows what a good player he was. Ours is like a father-son relationship."

Busuttil said he was honoured to be given such a prestigious appointment.

"I thank the MFA for the faith they showed in me and Edward Schembri, the Pietà Hotspurs president, for his co-operation. This is a big challenge for me but I promise that I will perform my duties to the best of my abilities," he said.

Faced with questions about their plans to bolster the national team, Heese said he wants Malta to adopt European-style tactics. That means no place for the old-fashioned libero in the heart of defence.

Busuttil, 39, said the national squad will not be like an exclusive club where only the 22 or so members are considered for selection.

"Horst and I agree that those players who show good form in the league will be given a chance.

"Even those who are dropped from the squad will continue to be assessed. However, we must also keep in mind that not every player who performs well in our competitions is prepared to play international football."

Eight-team Premier League

Making it clear that all stakeholders in the local game were consulted on the national team's training scheme, Mifsud then reiterated his belief that the Premier League should be trimmed to eight teams to attain a higher level of competitiveness.

The Premier League clubs are in favour of a reduction in the number of teams, he added.

The decisions on the appointments of Heese and Busuttil and the training scheme were approved by the executive committee and council who convened before yesterday's news conference.

New kits for the national teams were also presented yesterday.

The kits, manufactured by Italian sports brand Errea, represented locally by TuttoSport, retain the country's traditional red and white colours.

Ladies' team in home debut today

The national ladies' team make their home debut in international competitions today when they take on Ireland at the National Stadium (kick-off 6.30 p.m.).

Pierre Brincat's side have played three away games in Group Five of the European Championship qualifying campaign, losing to Romania 3-0, Bosnia 1-0 and Croatia 3-0.

Brincat, who has declared himself happy with his players' committed performances so far, will choose his team from a squad of 18 players.

FA Trophy - Enticing derbies

Two enticing derbies emerged from yesterday's FA Trophy first round draw. The six Premier sides avoided each other as they were seeded for the opening phase of the knockout competition. However, Hamrun Spartans would have preferred any name in the hat other than that of Marsa.

Last season, these two teams were involved in high-octane Premier League clashes but in the end Marsa were relegated. The two antagonists will now resume hostilities in the FA Trophy.

The other attractive draw yesterday was the match between neighbours Mosta and Naxxar Lions, this season both figuring in Division One.

Sliema, Birkirkara, Hibernians and Valletta will enter the fray at the quarter-final stage.

The draw: Marsaxlokk vs St Patrick; San Gwann vs Msida; Hamrun vs Marsa; Rabat vs Balzan; Pietà vs Senglea; Tarxien vs Floriana; Mosta vs Naxxar; Lija vs Mqabba.

The Saturday fixtures will be played on November 1, 8, 15 and 22 at the Centenary Stadium.