Squads leave for training camps
Newcomers in travelling party
As part of the build-up for their competitive assignments in Sep-tember, Malta's 'A' and Under-21 squads will, over the next two weeks, undergo a training camp abroad besides playing away friendly matches against Albania and Portugal respectively.
The national and U-21 players, coaches and MFA technical and medical personnel will gather at the Malta International Airport this afternoon to board flights heading to Vienna and Prague.
Led by national coach Dusan Fitzel, the players making up Malta's senior squad will step up their preparations for the upcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers with a one-week training stint in Slovakia between today and next Sunday.
Mark Miller's Under-21s will be involved in a similar venture in the Czech Republic during the same week.
After their seven-day work-out in Slovakia, Fitzel's ensemble will make their way to Tirana ahead of their friendly international against Albania at the Qemal Stafa National Stadium on August 22 (kick-off 8.45 p.m.).
A day earlier, Miller's U-21 team will face their counterparts from Portugal at the Rio Ave FC Stadium, Vila do Conde, Portugal (kick-off 9 p.m.).
On Wednesday, September 12, Malta's Under-21 team host France in a Group 10 qualifying match, valid for the European Championship.
The three newcomers in Fitzel's latest squad, namely Omar Borg (Birkirkara), Aaron Xuereb (Hibs) and Cleaven Frendo (Marsaxlokk), have been named in the 20-man travelling party.
On Friday evening, Ivan Woods's participation in the pre-season training camp looked in doubt after the Sliema forward picked up an ankle injury during his side's 2-0 defeat to Hamrun Spartans in a friendly warm-up.
However, Woods has received the green light from Sliema coach Ray Farrugia to travel with the rest of his international team-mates to Slovakia this afternoon. Apparently, Woods's injury is not as serious as first thought.
Woods, now an established member of the national squad, is to continue his rehabilitation from injury during his time abroad, under the expert guidance of Malta FA doctor David Attard and physio Joseph St John.
The four foreign-based players Fitzel included in his 27-strong squad last week, will not take part in the Slovakia training camp.
Foreign-based players
Goalkeeper Justin Haber, who recently completed a move to Greek club Haidari FC, and forward Andrè Schembri, who has signed a one-year loan deal with German third division team Eintracht Braunschweig, will join up with the rest of the Malta squad in Albania.
Coventry striker Michael Mifsud and Luke Dimech, now on the books of Macclesfield Town, will be unavailable for the friendly in Tirana.
Daniel Bogdanovic, whose 31 goals for champions Marsaxlokk made him the Premier League's top marksman last season, is another notable absentee from Fitzel's selection.
In the last two months, the Malta striker had a series of trials with various foreign clubs, including Crystal Palace, Stoke, Brann Bergen, in Norway, and Serie C1 team Foggia, but he has yet to realise his ambition of moving abroad.
This week, Bogdanovic is expected to try his luck with another foreign club.
The selected players
Dusan Fitzel's senior squad for a training camp in Slovakia and the friendly international against Albania on August 22:
Goalkeepers - Mario Muscat, Andrew Hogg, Omar Borg.
Defenders - Brian Said, Steve Wellman, Ian Azzopardi, Kenneth Scicluna, Josef Mifsud, Aaron Xuereb.
Midfielders - Gilbert Agius, Ivan Woods, George Mallia, Jamie Pace, Roderick Briffa, Roderick Bajada, Peter Pullicino.
Strikers - Cleaven Frendo, Andrew Cohen, Terence Scerri, Etienne Barbara.
• Goalkeeper Justin Haber and striker Andrè Schembri will join the squad in Albania.
Malta U-21 coach Mark Miller has called the following players for the training camp in the Czech Republic and a friendly in Portugal on August 21:
Goalkeepers - Miguel Montfort, Henry Bonello, Luke Woods.
Defenders - Edward Herrera, Kenneth Spiteri, Clayton Failla, Steve Borg, Clifford Gatt Baldacchino, Justin Grioli.
Midfielders - Ryan Fenech, Paul Fenech, Tyrone Farrugia, Dyson Falzon, Matthew Bartolo, John Mintoff, Edmond Agius, Thomas Paris.
Forwards - Ian Zammit, Angus Buhagiar, Steve Meilaq.
• Midfielder Andrei Agius, who recently joined Italian Serie C2 side Igea Virtus on loan from Messina, will link up with the Malta U-21 squad in Portugal today week.