Gozo selection to represent Malta in UEFA Regions Cup

A Gozitan selection will be representing Malta in the UEFA Regions Cup 2012/13. This was confirmed during a meeting of the Council of the Malta Football Association which was held on Tuesday.

The draws for the competition were held last month and the team representing Malta was drawn in Group 5 of the Intermediate Round together with regional representatives from three former Soviet republics – Latvia, Russia and Moldova. The winners of the eight groups will earn a place in the final tournament.

The mini-tournament will be held in Gozo in October.

Gozo had participated in the first edition of the UEFA Regions Cup in June 1999 losing 0-4 to Zapadne Srbije (Yugoslavia), 0-6 to Israel and 2-8 to Macedonia (Greece).

Between 2000 and 2010, Malta was represented by the Amateur national team, made up mainly of players from the lower divisions. The best achievement was in 2008 when the team led by Edwin Camilleri won the Preliminary Round mini-tournament with maximum points and reached the Intermediate Round.

In the mean time, Gozo took part in two editions of the VIVA World Cup – in 2009 and 2010. The Gozo FA hosted the 2010 edition. On both occasions, Gozo placed fifth.

In the UEFA Regions Cup, participating associations put forward the winners of their domestic amateur tournaments for the competition, which are contested on a regional basis but smaller associations are permitted to submit national selections.