Futsal national team prepares for World Cup qualifiers

The Malta Futsal Team got the ball rolling very early in 2022 as preparations are already underway for the Preliminary Round group of the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup to be contested in April between the 4th and the 13th.

Following a Fitness Testing procedure, the players selected for the Malta national futsal team will convene yet again on January 31 in view of an away friendly encounter in Hungary in the first week of February.

Fitness Testing has been carried out over two sessions on Monday and Wednesday, under the supervision of Malta FA Futsal chief Mark Marlow with other Futsal coaches also involved including the expert guidance of the National Team Coach Zeljko Anicic.

These tests directed towards the Malta Futsal Team players all trying to justify their billing in performing well to make the cut upon the final squad announcement, and this amazing opportunity for all to represent Malta at the very highest level in a World Cup tournament.

Photos: Copyright Joe Borg / Malta FA

The tests at the National Sport School in Pembroke included Futsal Intermittent endurance designed to assess the fitness of futsal players. Speed, power and agility tests with the ball also included in this rigorous drilling for the boys leading to more preparations going forward ramped up closer to the tournament.

During sessions the National Team players also had to perform warm up procedures that included light running, dynamic exercise and pillar preparation exercises.

In total 30 players have been called split in three different groups to adhere to underlying COVID restrictions, also players are enabled to undergo more specified training wherein also benefit from more individual attention by their coaches being in reduced numbers.

Group A – Luke GATT, Carl AZZOPARDI, Mark ZAMMIT, Adem ZOUARI, Melvin BORG, Andre CIANCIO, Jean Noel AZZOPARDI, Andrew ABELA, Ryan MUSCAT, Ivin GATT.

Group B – Clint MIFSUD, Andy MANGION, Marwan TELISI, Michael BORG, Jovica MILIJIC, Aaron MONTEBELLO, Stefan CAMILLERI, Dale VALLETTA, Armando GJEPALI, Kurt DARMANIN.

Group C – Stefan VELLA, Karl SCIORTINO, Steven CAMILLERI, Dylan MUSU, Andre CACHIA, Matthew ATTARD, Giancarlo SAMMUT, George FRENDO, Cleaven PORTELLI, Dylan CACCIATTOLO.