National team urged to build on Hungary success

As Malta gear up for Wednesday's friendly against Lithuania, the team's first outing since the famous 2-1 victory over Hungary last month, Joe Mifsud, the Malta FA president, yesterday reiterated his hope that the team avoid bottom spot in Group C.

Addressing the media ahead of a jam-packed period of international commitments, Dr Mifsud said Wed-nesday's warm-up against Lithuania and the commemorative friendly against Austria on February 7 are intended to abet Malta's build-up for next year's Euro qualifiers.

"My hope is that the success against Hungary will pave the way for our national team to gain more points and avoid last place in the group," Dr Mifsud said.

"The friendlies against Lithuania and Austria should help the team enhance their competitive sharpness before the qualifiers against Moldova and Greece at the end of March."

Lithuania may not be regarded among the heavyweights of European football but their international standing rose after the 1-1 away draw against world champions Italy in September.

Dr Mifsud said officials from the Italian football federation have already requested a DVD of Wednesday's friendly.

Malta will host Lithuania at the Hibs Ground at 2 p.m. The day before, the U-21s, under the guidance of Mark Miller, will take on Tunisia in a friendly in Tunis.

On Friday, it will be the turn of Malta's U-17 squad, led by Oliver Spiteri, to grab a share of the limelight when they kick off their commitments in a UEFA Mini-Tournament being staged here. The other teams are Italy, Serbia and Andorra.

After the creditable showing in a UEFA Mini-Tournament in Denmark last month, Edwin Camilleri's U-19 squad will be striving to keep the momentum going in two home friendlies against Georgia next month.

Pierre Brincat's women's team will also be in action this month. They are due to travel to Luxembourg next Thursday to take part in a European Championship preliminary round group, also featuring Slovakia and Lithuania.

Malta's Futsal team, who have Czech Michael Striz as coach, will take their international bow in January when playing in a UEFA Mini-Tournament at the Corradino pavilion. They play against Georgia, Kazakhstan and Cyprus.

According to Dr Mifsud, Striz has expressed concern about the fact that the majority of the players taking part in local five-a-side competitions are of a veteran age.

Dr Mifsud said the Malta FA will explore ways how to introduce Futsal in local football nurseries.

New headquarters

The Malta FA have initiated the process of transferring its headquarters from Valletta to the Millennium Stand. Dr Mifsud said the MFA's target is to inaugurate the new premises in June.

Another project in the pipeline is the laying of a new artificial turf pitch at the Centenary Stadium.

"As from next Monday, the MFA will start receiving offers from companies interested in installing a new pitch at the Centenary Stadium," Dr Mifsud said.

"The new pitch must be FIFA two-star level as that would allow us to host international matches."

New, updated regulations for the licensing of clubs in Europe are also on the MFA's to-do list.

"UEFA has just published its second clubs' licensing manual which contains more stringent conditions. These will be debated in our next council meeting on Thursday," the MFA president said.

Meanwhile, Franco Degabriele, head of the marketing department at Melita Cable, revealed that an agreement has been reached for the live transmission of Malta's away matches against Norway and Hungary next year.

"Melita Cable is doing its best to acquire the TV rights for the broadcast of Malta's other away matches," Degabriele said.

It was also announced yesterday that the Malta FA, in conjunction with Melita Cable, have issued a DVD of the match between Malta and Hungary.