Frendo enjoys positive stint with Lecce

Cleaven Frendo's prospects of pursuing his career abroad increased significantly these past few days.

Regarded as one of Malta's emerging talents, Frendo, 19, turned out for Lecce's U-19 squad in an international tournament, organised by AC Bellinzona, of Switzerland.

Reflecting the prestige of this competition is the pedigree of the eight participating teams, namely Argentina's River Plate, Lecce, the Japanese national team, FC Basel, of Switzerland, Brazil's Cruzeiro, SL Benfica, of Portugal, Germany's Werder Bremen and hosts AC Bellinzona.

Frendo was invited to join the Lecce youth squad after leaving a good impression on the Serie A club's sporting director Pantaleo Corvino when the latter paid a two-day visit to Malta last month to watch the league match between Hibs and Pietà (1-0).

In Switzerland, Frendo played 39 minutes of Lecce's 2-0 defeat to Japan on the opening day. On Friday, the 19-year-old Pietà forward enjoyed a full 90-minute run-out as Lecce obtained a 1-1 draw with FC Basel.

Lecce's last commitment in Group A was a tough clash against crack side River Plate for which the Maltese starlet was again included in the starting line-up.

Lecce seemed well on their way to victory after surging into a 2-0 first-half lead but a combination of the sending-off of their goalkeeper soon after half-time and some excellent football from the South Americans enabled River to level the score.

Frendo was withdrawn at half-time after picking up a slight knock.

The point gained from this match ensured River ended their group commitments on top with Japan clinching the other semi-final berth as runners-up. Basel and Lecce finished third and fourth respectively.

In Group B, top spot was shared by Cruzeiro and Benfica who progressed to the semi-finals which were played on Easter Sunday.

River Plate had the better of Benfica 2-0 but their win was later modified to 3-0 after the match was abandoned two minutes from time when a Benfica player assaulted the referee after he had been sent off.

Japan then set up a second showdown with River Plate in the final - their first encounter in Group A produced a 2-1 win for the Argentines - after beating Cruzeiro 4-2 on penalties.

Play-off win

Lecce gained some consolation for missing out on a semi-final berth with a 2-0 success over Werder Bremen in a play-off for seventh/eighth place yesterday.

Here, Frendo played a part in Lecce's final game in the tournament. The other play-offs and final were played late yesterday.

Frendo, who spent last season on loan at Division One club Lija Athletic, is now due to return home tomorrow and should be available to play for Pietà in Friday's match against Marsaxlokk.