ZC Excess eye Futsal Cup qualification

ZC Excess are determined to make an instant mark in their first participation in the UEFA Futsal Cup as the Malta champions continue to build up for next week’s Preliminary Round at the Cottonera Sports Complex.

Last season, ZC Excess established themselves as the leading force in local futsal and, inspired by player-coach Florin Anton, they won the Division One title for the first time.

Spurred by that triumph, the club, formerly Juvenis Aluserv, want to extend the success in the Euro competition.

Despite being drawn against experienced teams FS Ilves Tampere (Finland), BGA Futsal (Denmark) and FK Tirana (Albania), Anton is confident the team can top the mini-tournament to be played between August 16 and 19.

“We are approaching this competition with the objective of progressing to the next round,” Anton, a former Ħamrun Spartans defender, told reporters in Sliema.

“We practised regularly this summer and we also added two Romanian players to our squad, Gabriel Dobre and Emil Andrei Raducu.”

Mark Borg, tournament director, thanked Kunsill Malti ghall-Isport for their assistance and urged the Malta’s FA new administration to invest more in futsal.

Naxxar base

MFA president Norman Darmanin Demajo was present for the meeting with the media. He said he recognised the rising popularity of five-a-side football and pledged that in the coming months he will personally see that more attention is given to this sport.

“As I promised before the MFA elections, our intention is to upgrade the futsal pitches we already have,” Darmanin Demajo said.

“We have also reached an agreement with Naxxar Lions FC to include futsal facilities, where five-a-side competitions could be played, in a new stadium they intend to construct near the Trade Fair Grounds.

“There are other plans in store as it’s our intention to give this sport the importance it deserves.”

Also present for yesterday’s news conference was Malta futsal coach Vic Hermans. He augured ZC Excess to achieve their objectives next week and reach the next round of the competition.

The squad

Goalkeepers: I. Bartolo, B. Baldacchino, J. Sammut.

Defenders: S. Gambin, G. Bonello, M. Turk, J. Ciangura, G. Baldacchino.

Forwards: J. Scerri, F. Bassi, M. Florin, F. Anton, C. Cope, N. Del Re, E. Raducu, G. Dobre, S. Agius, C. Scicluna.