Maltese Champions Birkirkara FC, with the support of SportMalta, travelled to Lithuania in the early hours of Monday morning for their commitments in the qualifying round of the UEFA Women’s Champions League which will be played between the 7 and 13 August.

The team took a flight to Riga, Latvia and then a four-hour bus to Kaunas in Lithuania.

Coach Melania Bajada has selected twenty players for their commitments in Group 10 and her choice is a blend of experienced and young players – a blend that has led the Stripes to the winning of the last two league titles under her helm.

The squad includes the two signings – Ylenia Carabott and Simone Buttigieg while last year’s league’s top scorer Kailey Willis together with Mariah Cardona, Kaycee Micallef, and Veronique Mifsud are all eligible to play in this competition for the first time.

The Stripes will be hoping to build on last year’s historic point as they achieved their first-ever point in this competition following a memorable draw against Cardiff Met FC of Wales.

The Maltese champions will start their commitments on Wednesday, 7 August against group-favourites Gintra Universitetas FC and then take on KF Vllaznia of Albania on the 10 August before facing Wexford Youths FC in the last match on the 13 August.

SQUAD: Janice Xuereb, Nina Dimech, Mariah Cardona, Stephania Farrugia, Michela Felice, Kaycee Micallef, Jelena Sakic, Mariah Sciberras, Yasmeen Vella, Samantha Zarb, Simone Buttigieg, Veronique Mifsud, Tracy Teuma, Ann-Marie Said, Alishia Sultana, Gabriella Zahra, Ylenia Carabott, Raina Giusti, Sarah Urpani, Kailey Willis.

TECHNICAL STAFF: Melania Bajada (Coach), Lawrence Ciantar (Assistant Coach), Simon Grech (Goalkeepers’ Coach), Antonella Zammit (Physiotherapist), Henriette Fenech (Team Manager), Doreen Parnis (Kit Manager), Ayrton Galea (Club Official), Massimo Fenech (Club Official).