Stand-in Gatt opts for home-based squad
National team training starts on January 16
After a break from international football following the end of the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, the national squad will resume training later this month in preparation for the first friendly of the year, against Liechtenstein, at the National Stadium, on February 29.
Until the MFA appoints a new national coach to succeed John Buttigieg, the national team will be under the charge of caretaker manager Robert Gatt, the association’s technical director.
This week, Gatt selected an 18-man squad made up of home-based players only as training is set to resume on January 16.
Those selected will undergo routine physical tests under the guidance of physical trainer Luca Pagani who has extended his contract with the MFA. The training programme includes Monday and Tuesday sessions.
The new faces in Gatt’s squad are Edmond Agius and Dyson Falzon (both Valletta) and Sliema Wanderers goalkeeper Henry Bonello.
Rowen Muscat (Birkirkara), Bjorn Kristensen (Hibs) and Zack Muscat (Pietà Hotspurs) have been promoted to the senior squad from the Under-21 group.
No fewer than 10 players who formed part of the national pool under Buttigieg have been left out of the squad this time around. They are Jamie Pace, Kenneth Scicluna, Ivan Woods, Carlo Mamo, Christian Caruana, Paul Fenech, Trevor Cilia, Joseph Zerafa, John Mintoff and Reuben Gauci.
Foreign-based players selected for the national team will be called up in the build-up to international matches.
The Malta FA also announced that training sessions for the other national selections, namely, Under-17, Under-19, Under-21 and the women’s team, together with the Academy, will also resume on January 16.
Gatt’s Selection
Goalkeepers: Andrew Hogg (Valletta); Henry Bonello (Sliema).
Defenders: Steve Borg (Valletta), Roderick Briffa (Valletta), Jonathan Caruana (Valletta), Edward Herrera (Hibs), Clayton Failla (Hibs), Alex Muscat (Sliema), Zack Muscat (Pietà Hotspurs).
Midfielders: Gareth Sciberras (Birkirkara), Rowen Muscat (Birkirkara), Shaun Bajada (Birkirkara), Edmond Agius (Valletta), Dyson Falzon (Valletta), Ryan Fenech (Sliema), Bjorn Kristensen (Hibs).
Forwards: Michael Mifsud (Valletta), Andrew Cohen (Hibs).