Stiffer tests await Malta as qualification is secured

Malta rose to the occasion and performed admirably in their final group A matches to secure a berth in the next stage of the LEN European Championship.

The team made sure of progress when they edged leaders Turkey at Tal-Qroqq with a fighting performance which earned them victory by the odd goal in 15 and then drew against Poland in Szcieczin on Friday.

Beyond the satisfaction of advancing to the next stage of the competition, victory over a vastly bigger country such as Turkey, population-wise and in terms of progress the Turks had made on the continental arena in recent years, the prestige factor cannot be ignored.

Although motivation in our opponents’ minds may not have been as high as ours in view of their already secured passage to the next phase, the Turks were in no mood to concede defeat against a ‘miniscule’ country and a team they had easily beaten 15-3 in the first-leg match in Turkey.

However, a disciplined Maltese oufit marshalled superbly by Steve Camilleri, looked a good bet to surprise their opponents having led for most of the match by two goals. In the end it was a close but deserved win and a vindication of the trust shown in our team by the coaches and the ASA clan.

In Friday’s match against Poland, the away factor may have played some part in our shaky start against a team we had beaten 7-3 in the home encounter at the end of the season last year. But our battling qualities again surfaced and a team effort helped us salvage the game on a 5-5 scoreline after we had been trailing.

For the record the scorers of the 13 goals in our last two matches were as follows: Steve Camilleri 6, Michele Stellini 3, Andrea Bianchi, Jerome Gabaretta, Karl Galea and Paul Privitera one goal each.

Coach Sergio Afric and his assistant Karl Izzo were no doubt satisfied with our boys’ performances and had words of praise for their work ethic during training and in competition.

They are now aware that in October it will be a different kettle of fish as Malta is braced to come up against opponents of the calibre of Spain, Greece, Germany and Romania, all countries which are some notches ahead of our standard.

Still our learning curve stands to show an upward trend given the meticulous preparation the team has been going through.