Fitzel bemoans domestic fixture congestion

Malta coach Dusan Fitzel is anything but happy with his team's preparations for this month's Euro 2008 qualifiers against Hungary and Moldova.

The Slovakia-born tactician's disquiet stems from the recent congestion of Premier League fixtures.

"After our game against Turkey, everything was excellent because the team had just gained a very good result," Fitzel told reporters at a news conference yesterday.

"I went back to the office on the Monday to plan for the matches against Hungary and Moldova but as I looked at the Premier League fixtures list, I realised that I would not have enough time to work with my players.

"In this country, it's already difficult to work because of the lack of facilities and to have so many matches played in such a short period of time made the problem even worse.

"On most occasions, teams had less than four days between matches and that must have made it very difficult for the players to cope, especially when taking into account that the majority of them are not professionals.

"It's hard to prepare the team for international games in these circumstances. As the players have reported back for training with the national team less than a week before the game, I tried to focus mainly on the recovery aspect."

Malta pulled off a memorable result when, exactly a year ago to the day, a brace from Andrè Schembri earned the national team a 2-1 victory over Hungary at Ta' Qali.

Although the morale within the Maltese squad is high, Fitzel is bracing himself for a gruelling work-out in Budapest on Saturday.

"I have done my homework on our opponents," Fitzel remarked.

"I have watched DVDs of recent matches played by Hungary and Moldova.

"After their defeat against Malta, Hungary changed their coach and the new mentor (Peter Varhidi) has brought new players into the squad.

"Of all the players in the Hungary team for the match against Malta last October, only three are still in the squad.

"It looks as if Hungary have improved this past year as they have beaten Italy 3-1 in a friendly and were 1-0 winners over Bosnia.

"We certainly have a very difficult game in front of us."

Fitzel yesterday divulged the names of the 18 players who are travelling to Budapest via Munich this morning.

Andrew Cohen and Etienne Barbara have again been dropped along with Cleaven Frendo, Gareth Sciberras, Aaron Xuereb and goalkeeper Andrew Hogg.

Skipper Gilbert Agius is out as he is recovering from a torn thigh muscle and Jamie Pace is ruled out by suspension.

Former Hibernians striker Udo Nwoko, who is currently engaged with Portuguese club Leixoes, has been called to the national squad for the first time. The Nigerian-born winger-cum-forward has been granted dual citizenship as he is married to a Maltese woman.

The other established foreign-based players in the squad have been confirmed in Fitzel's 18-strong selection but while Nwoko, Coventry's Michael Mifsud, Schembri, of German club Eintracht Braunschweig, and Haidari FC goalkeeper Justin Haber, have already reported for international duty, Macclesfield defender Luke Dimech will join the squad in Budapest today.

Quizzed about his decision to pick Nwoko, Fitzel said: "He is playing in Portugal's top league where the clubs are all professional and the level of football is high.

"This means that for players to compete in this league, they must have quality and that also applies for Nwoko.

"I've been following him for a long time. I've known him from his time with Hibs and Marsaxlokk. I hope that Nwoko has improved as a player but he still has to prove himself for the national team."

Fitzel was typically forthright in his reply to a question about Barbara's umpteenth exclusion from the national squad.

"In international matches, all the players must run and fight hard throughout the whole match. Barbara doesn't work hard enough, defensive-wise," Fitzel said.

Fitzel's squad

Keepers - Justin Haber (Haidari, Greece); Mario Muscat (Hibs).

Defenders - Ian Azzopardi, Roderick Briffa, Brian Said (all Sliema); Luke Dimech (Macclesfield); Josef Mifsud, Kenneth Scicluna (Valletta); Stephen Wellman (Marsaxlokk).

Midfielders - Roderick Bajada (Sliema); George Mallia (Birkirkara); Udo Nwoko (Leixoes, Portugal); Peter Pullicino, Kevin Sammut (both Marsaxlokk).

Forwards - Michael Mifsud (Coventry, England); Terence Scerri (Hibs); Andrè Schembri (Ein. Braunschweig, Germany); Ivan Woods (Sliema).

National squad for Antalya training camp

The Times has learnt that the national squad will have a four-day training camp in Antalya before next month's qualifier in Greece (Nov. 17).

Fitzel has reportedly been given the go-ahead to take his players for a mini training stint in the Turkish resort city from November 11-15.

At the end of the training camp, the Maltese contingent will head straight to Greece for the qualifier against the Euro champions.