Football team kicks off Malta's participation in Almeria

The 2005 Mediterranean Games officially get underway tomorrow with the opening ceremony at the Stadium of the Mediterranean Games in Almeria. But Maltese participation in the 15th edition starts tonight when the U-21 football team meets Spain in their opening Group B match.

Malta were originally drawn in Group C along with Greece, Algeria and Tunisia. But the late withdrawal of Lebanon and Serbia and Montenegro forced organisers into a reshuffle of the groups.

The remaining nine teams have now been split into three groups with the quarter-finals being contested by the top eight sides.

Given that only the team with the worst record will be eliminated after the group stages, Malta surely has a bright chance of making the quarter-finals.

According to Malta Olympic Committee (MOC) records, this is the first time in 42 years that a football team has been included in Malta's contingent for the Mediterranean Games. The last time this happened was in 1963 in Naples when our selection was led by coach Lolly Borg.

In Almeria, the Malta U-21 team is under the guidance of Silvio Vella, assistant to Malta U-21 coach Mark Miller, and Edwin Camilleri.

Due to age limitations set by the organisers several key players of the current Malta U-21 side were unable to join the team in Almeria.

After today's clash against the hosts, Malta will again be in action on Saturday when they face Turkey in their second and last match.

All members in Malta's contingent have arrived in Almeria. In a news conference held last week, MOC chef-de-mission Pippo Psaila expressed his optimism in Malta's chances of winning more than one medal at these Games which end on July 3.

Double-trap shooter William Chetcuti, fresh from his successful gold medal defence in the Andorra GSSE, is undoubtedly our best prospect of a podium finish when he competes in his favourite discipline on Monday.

Swimmer Angela Galea, another gold medal winner in Andorra in the 200m butterfly, takes part in the 100 metres butterfly heats on Saturday. She has also registered to take part in the 50 metres fly (on Monday) and 200m fly (on Tuesday).

Professional golf player Andy Borg will launch his adventure in the Mediterranean Games on Monday when he competes in the opening round of the competition.

Wrestler Abraham Vassallo will be involved in the 84kg preliminary round bouts on Tuesday while judoka Marcon Bezzina enters the fray the following day in the 57kg category.

The last Maltese representatives in action will be the track athletes. Mario Bonello (200m) and Rashid Chouhal (triple jump) will experience their baptism in these Games on Wednesday. The following day Darren Gilford and Jeandre Mallia will figure in the 100m heats.

The Maltese sprinters will then join forces for the 4x100 metres competition scheduled for July 1.

Carol Galea and Chouhal will be the final Maltese athletes striving for a medal in Almeria when on July 2 they take part in the half-marathon and the long jump respectively.