Malta will be playing two games in the coming days – an away game against Israel on Thursday 2nd September at the Ramat Gan Stadium and then the match against Latvia at home on Tuesday 7.
National coach John Buttigieg said these two games will be another two difficult matches but is sure that the players will be giving their hundred per cent. Buttigieg said that it was important for the players to remain concentrated in games in order to achieve good results. He said that he was satisfied with the commitment shown by players in training and recent matches. In their last outing, the national team shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw with FYR Macedonia.
Photos: Copyright © domenic aquilina
The players selected by Buttigieg and his assistant Carmel Busuttil are:
goalkeepers Anthony Curmi (Tarxien), Andrew Hogg (Valletta), Mario Muscat (Hibs);
defenders Andrei Agius (Melfi), Jonathan Caruana (Valletta), Clayton Failla (Sliema), Massimo Grima (Hamrun), Edward Herrera (Hibs), Carlo Mamo (Marsaxlokk), Manny Muscat (Wellington Phoenix), Joseph Zerafa (Birkirkara);
midfielders Shaun Bajada (Birkirkara), Roderick Briffa (Valletta), Trevor Cilia (Birkirkara), Paul Fenech (Birkirkara), Ryan Fenech (Hamrun), Jamie Pace (Valletta), Kevin Sammut (Valletta), Gareth Sciberras (Marsaxlokk);
forwards Daniel Bogdanovic (Sheffield United), Andrew Cohen (Hibs), Michael Mifsud (unattached), Ivan Woods (Sliema).
The MFA CEO then presented the number 12 shirt to Louis Agius from the South End Core.
Vassallo said that children attending nurseries will also be eligible to attend for free as before but this time in order to attract more children to games, children attending programmes by the Kunsill Malti g?all-iSport and attending other sports nurseries will also be able to attend for free.
On behalf of the South End Core, Louis Agius appealed for more people to join the group. He said that the association and the South End Core were doing everything possible to attract more people to the stadium although the past two years were quite difficult for the national team.
Malta vs Latvia will be played at the National Stadium on Tuesday 7th September, kick-off at 19:30. The match will be controlled by Finnish referee Tony Asumaa who will be assisted by assistant referees Matti Heininen and Mikko Alakare and fourth official Ville Jarvenpaa.
Tickets for this game will cost €15 for the West Stand – A, B and C and €8 for the Millennium Stand. Tickets will be available as from Monday 30th August from the following outlets:
MFA Headquarters – Millennium Stand, Ta’ Qali
MFA Gym – Millennium Stand, Ta’ Qali
Geraldu Kiosk – Valletta
Lion King Stationery – Pietà
Teamsport – Iklin
Star Tourism – Bugibba
Eros Stationery – Paceville
GO outlets – Bay Street, Naxxar, Paola, Pavi – Qormi
Melita outlets – Embassy – Valletta, MIA Gudja and Head Offices – Mriehel.
Tickets will only be available on match day from the stadium selling points prior to kick-off.