Wounded Camenzuli takes criticism in his stride

William Camenzuli is fully focused on Birkirkara's title bid and still willing to make his mark for the national team despite Dusan Fitzel's negative comments last week.

It is just as well that William Camenzuli is a level-headed person who likes to keep things in perspective.

Now firmly established as one of the pillars in the title-chasing Birkirkara side, Camenzuli's character and his famed inner strength were put to a severe test last week.

Having earned a recall to the national squad after a lengthy absence, Camenzuli, 27, was justifiably thrilled by the prospect of making his much-awaited comeback for Malta during the International Football Tournament at the National Stadium.

His return to the squad had been generally endorsed by the local sporting media and expectations were high when Camenzuli was named in Dusan Fitzel's selection for the final game against Georgia last Wednesday.

With Malta enduring a nightmare start, suffering two early goals to Georgia, Camenzuli looked out of depth in a central midfield position but he was not alone in his inadequacy.

Come half-time, Camenzuli was one of two players hauled off by Fitzel and barely 90 minutes later, serious doubts had been cast about his international future, the national mentor bluntly questioning his credentials to represent Malta.

For a nation unaccustomed to straightforward, controversial assertions made outside the political sphere, Fitzel's declaration caused quite a stir in local football circles, especially among the Birkirkara clan.

Top of the league and with high aspirations of winning the title, Birkirkara were worried that such criticism could derail the focus and confidence of a player who was one of the catalysts of their renaissance since December.

Their fears evaporated early on during Saturday's league match against Msida St Joseph as Camenzuli gave a typically no-frills but assured display to help Birkirkara storm into a four-goal lead by the end of the opening half.

By Sunday evening, Birkirkara's optimism increased after two of their main rivals, Sliema and Hibs, slipped to unexpected defeats.

Like all in the Stripes' team, Camenzuli was still in high spirits yesterday.

"It was a very satisfactory weekend for us as our victory over Msida and the results of the other matches consolidated our position at the top of the league," Camenzuli said.

"The most important aspect is that we made a good start to the Championship Pool.

"We have made another small step towards the championship but we still have to win the direct clashes to stay on the right track.

"I'm optimistic about our chances of landing the title but I am not the type who gets carried away by the events of one weekend.

"We need to take it game by game."

Camenzuli was very much in the limelight last weekend with Bir-kirkara fans and critics keeping a close eye on his contribution in the wake of Fitzel's remarks.

"That comment from the coach hurt but I didn't let it affect my approach to the game against Msida," Camenzuli confessed.

"I would be lying if I said that I didn't think about it but during the match, I put it out of my mind and concentrated on my job."

Although Fitzel's answers in Wednesday's post-match news conference were refreshingly forthright, once the dust had settled the general feeling was that the Czech should have refrained from coming down so heavily on a player who had not figured at international level for about two years.

Camenzuli revealed that Fitzel made it a point to speak to him after the match against Msida.

"I had a conversation with the national coach on Saturday," Camenzuli said.

"He sort of apologised for his comment, claiming that he didn't expect it to be given such importance by the media.

"From what I sensed, it could also have been the case that Mr Fitzel was in difficulty to find the right words in English to express his views.

"It's good that the coach has made an attempt to clarify things. As regards my future with the national team, it's the coaches who make decisions on which players to use."

In light of Camenzuli's exile from the national squad when Horst Heese was in charge, this latest fallout is likely to prompt fans and friends to encourage the Birkirkara player to pull the plug on his international career and devote all his energies to club football.

His reputation as a versatile and powerful performer has earned him many admirers among the local football fraternity.

While reiterating his bold intent to maintain his high level of performance for Birkirkara, Camenzuli is not prepared to turn his back on Malta.

"I remain fully committed to my club and if anything, I am now more motivated to show my worth with one of the leading teams in Maltese football," Camenzuli argued.

"As far as the national team is concerned, I still have ambitions to play but as I said, it's up to the coaches."

Shifting his attention back to Birkirkara's straightforward 5-0 win over Msida, Camenzuli remarked that Msida's self-confidence crumbled after they fell two goals behind.

"Msida gave up too quickly, I guess," Camenzuli said.

"They feared the worst after we went 2-0 up with barely 15 minutes gone.

"Their game was littered with mistakes and at times it seemed as if they were only concerned about keeping their losing margin as low as possible rather than having a go themselves."

Msida may have been chaotic on the day but Birkirkara definitely looked the part as leading championship candidates.

For much of the past decade, Birkirkara have been bracketed among the main title challengers but all they have to show for their efforts is one league championship in 1999-2000.

Camenzuli believes that the current crop of players have what it takes to end a six-year wait for Bir-kirkara's second championship.

"It's not just the performances that make me confident in our ability to win the title," Camenzuli said.

"The biggest factor is greater unity among our squad."

Birkirkara have clearly seized the initiative but Camenzuli says the other three contenders are still very much in the race.

"At this moment in time, it is tempting to say that Marsaxlokk will be the biggest threat," he said.

"I still consider Sliema, Marsaxlokk and Hibs as candidates for the league title.

"The head-to-head clashes will be difficult but if we do come out on top from the next five games, we would have made an important step towards the championship."