Hermans hopes Finland progress inspires Malta

Malta futsal coach Vic Hermans knows his team face an uphill struggle in their friendly encounters with Finland today and tomorrow but hopes the experience will stand his players in good stead.

“Finland are a better team compared to Malta,” Hermans told repor-ters at the Centenary Hall yesterday.

“They are a growing futsal nation and also have some professional players in their squad. Our situation is completely different as our players have been fighting to get free hours from work in order to prepare and play in these games. But, on the positive side, this is the first time that our squad is staying in a hotel (Le Meridien) before a game.

“We know what our standard is but these matches should show our clubs the level we want to reach. This is why I prefer to play against strong nations in friendlies.”

The warm-up games against Finland, to be played at the Cottonera Sports Complex starting at 8 p.m., are part of Malta’s build-up for their participation in the first Mediterranean Futsal Cup, to be staged in Libya next month, and, more importantly, for January’s Group D qualifying tournament which will pit Hermans’s team against Bulgaria, France and Lithuania.

In December, the Malta futsal team will take part in a four-nation tournament along with Switzerland, Germany and Turkey.

Hermans, who was recently appointed head of the Malta FA’s technical centre, is widely regarded as one of the leading futsal experts worldwide. The outspoken Dutchman is currently drawing up a plan aimed at improving the overall level of Maltese football, including futsal and grassroots.

“John Buttigieg (national coach) is also involved in this,” Hermans said.

“The new MFA president is prepared to change things, he wants long-term development for our football but to achieve this, we must believe in projects.”

Meanwhile, Malta will field its U-21s for next week’s home Challenge Trophy match against Romania after the latter informed the MFA that they are sending their U-18 squad for this fixture.

Futsal squad

Keepers – B. Baldacchino, M. Mifsud, B. Vassallo. Players – M. Borg, C. Brincat, C. Cope, J. Cutajar, N. Del Re, A. Galea, J. Gatt, D. Gera, R. Magro, J. Magri Overend, C. Scicluna, X. Saliba, D. Smith, F. Xerri.