UEFA Futsal Cupto be staged atCottonera Complex next month

Malta champions ZC Excess to face teams from Finland, Denmark and Albania

The UEFA Futsal Cup Preliminary Round Group B mini-tournament will be played at the Cottonera Sports Complex between August 16 and 19.

ZC Excess, Malta’s futsal champions, will pit their wits against FS Ilves Tampere (Fin­land), BGA Futsal (Denmark) and KF Tirana (Albania) respectively.

Details about the tournament were given during a news conference held earlier this week at The Palace, Sliema.

Mark Borg, the tournament director, said this is the first time a Maltese club will host a UEFA Futsal Cup mini-tournament... another milestone for the club after their maiden title success last season.

Borg thanked all those who have lent their support to the club’s bid to organise the UEFA Futsal Cup in Malta, namely the Kunsill Malti għall-Isport and Parliamentary Secretary for Youth and Sport Clyde Puli, Vic Hermans, the national futsal coach, and club sponsors ZC Installations.

Edward Psaila, the president of ZC Excess, described last season’s title triumph as “a dream come true” for the club which last January launched its own futsal school. He added that the UEFA representative has been impressed by the venue of next month’s tournament as well as the accommodation arrange­ments for the visiting teams.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Youth and Sport said this was the first time the Cottonera Sports Complex will be used as the venue for a futsal tournament. Some modifications had to be made at the complex in order to bring it in line with UEFA regulations for futsal competitions.

Stressing the importance of investment in sport facilities, Puli announced that the Sports Complex in Kirkop will be inaugurated later this year.

He also explained that the proposed multi-purpose indoor sports complex at White Rocks will have a seating capacity of 8,000 and can host up to 15 events concurrently.

Hermans, who was presented with a memento by Psaila in recognition of his work towards the development of futsal, expressed his satisfaction at the appreciation shown for his efforts to raise the level and popularity of the game in Malta.