Women’s national teams’ coaching staff confirmed

The technical staff for all the national women’s teams, from the senior squad to the Academy selections, have been confirmed.

Having been appointed as Malta women’s coach in 2015, Mark Gatt stays at the helm of the senior team. He will be assisted by former Malta international Dionne Tonna who took up her new role earlier this year following her experience in charge of the Under-17 girls team.

Malta will kick off their 2021-22 international commitments this coming Thursday with a tough qualifier away to Denmark, their opening match in Group E of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 qualifying round. Five days later, Malta host Bosnia & Herzegovina at the Centenary Stadium.

Frank Schembri is the coach of the Malta Under-19 women’s team with Rosalie Borg as his assistant. The Under-19 team are scheduled to play three matches – against Israel, Romania and Georgia – in Group B4 of the UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship Qualifying Round in late October. This mini-tournament will be held in Malta.

At Under-16 level, the girls academy group is led by Kathleen Saliba with Mandy Debono as her assistant while Karen Heneghan is the coach responsible for the Under-13s where she is assisted by Clint Tabone.

SUSTAINING GROWTH OF WOMEN’S FOOTBALL

The technical co-ordinator of all the women’s national teams is Pierre Brincat, the Malta FA Director of Women’s Football.

Brincat said: “Sustaining the growth of women’s football in Malta remains the foremost priority as set out in the Malta FA strategy. Our core mission is to improve the level of our women’s national teams, not only in terms of player development, but also by investing in coach education for women’s coaches in line with the UEFA guidelines.

“This approach is reflected in the increased number of female coaches involved in the technical set-up of our women’s national teams and the Girls Academy. 

“On the playing side, we are currently preparing for our opening two Women’s World Cup 2023 qualifiers. The aim for this competition is to build on our positive campaign in the 2022 UEFA Women’s EURO qualifying campaign. At Under-19 level, we are looking forward to the UEFA U-19 qualifying commitments as international matches are very important for our young players to gain experience.”

The Malta FA Women’s Football Department is also implementing important changes in the domestic competitions to strengthen the player pathway from youth to senior football.

SENIOR WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM

Head Coach – Mark Gatt

Assistant Coach – Dionne Tonna

Goalkeepers Coach – Roger Camilleri

Fitness Coach – Gregory Degabriele

Match Analyst – Roger Camilleri

NEXT COMMITMENTS

16.09.2021 FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 – Denmark vs Malta

21.09.2021 FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 – Malta vs Bosnia and Herzegovina

UNDER-19

Coach – Frank Schembri

Assistant Coach – Rosalie Borg

Goalkeepers Coach – Michelle Zahra

Fitness Coach – Luke Borg

Match Analyst – Roger Camilleri

NEXT COMMITMENTS

(HOME) 20.10.2021 UEFA Women’s U19 Championships Round 1 2021/2022 – Israel vs Malta

(HOME) 23.10.2021 UEFA Women’s U19 Championships Round 1 2021/2022 – Romania vs Malta

(HOME) 26.10.2021 UEFA European Women’s U19 Championships Round 1 2021/2022 – Malta vs Georgia

UNDER-16

Coach – Kathleen Saliba

Assistant Coach – Mandy Debono

Goalkeepers Coach – Jason Galea

Fitness Coach – Luke Borg

UNDER-13

Coach – Karen Heneghan

Assistant Coach – Clint Tabone

Goalkeepers Coach – Janice Xuereb

Fitness Coach – Luke Borg

ALL GROUPS

Technical Coordinator – Pierre Brincat

Team Manager – Amanda Dimech

Media Officer – Gianluca Lia