Women’s Under-19 national team to play friendly matches in Cyprus

National Team Women
by Antoine Busuttil

The Malta Women’s Under-19 selection will travel to Cyprus for an international double-header friendly against the home side on February 17 and February 19.

Coached by Frank Schembri, the Under-19s will be facing Cyprus in two warm-up matches that will serve as a preparation ahead of April’s round 2 of the 2022 Women Under-19 European Championship qualifications.

In that tournament, Malta will face Northern Ireland, Azerbaijan and Faroe Islands. In the previous round, they hosted Georgia, Romania and Israel back in October.

For these friendlies, coach Schembri who will be assisted by Mandy Debono, has kept faith with a lot of players that featured in round 1 of the European Championships qualifications back in October.

These include England-based players Alexandra Gatt, who is on the books of fourth-tier side London Seaward, and Emma Ciantar Piccinino who joined third-tier side Middlesbrough. In addition, there is also Hellas Verona Women player Kailey Willis who has scored six goals in eight youth league games this season.

Schembri picked six players from Raiders Lija including Leah Ayres. The forward has scored eight goals in this season’s MFA Women’s League and has been handed her first ever call up with any Maltese selection.

Birkirkara are represented by four players, Swieqi United and San Gwann have two players each while Mġarr United and Kirkop United have one player each called up in the squad.

SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Raisa Costantino (Kirkop United), Giulia D’Antuono (Raiders Lija).

Defenders: Nicole Camenzuli (Mġarr United), Mariah Cardona, Martina Fenech (Birkirkara), Tammy Falzon, Eunice Micallef (Swieqi United), Georgiana Mifsud (Raiders Lija), Alexandra Gatt (London Seaward – England), Rhea Borg (San Gwann).

Midfielders: Sabrin Blihi, Maya Lucia (Raiders Lija), Michaela Cachia (Swieqi United), Ileana Farrugia, Veronique Mifsud (Birkirkara), Yulya Carella (San Ġwann), Emma Ciantar Piccinino (Middlesbrrough – England).

Forwards: Leah Ayres, Sarah Vella Barbieri (Raiders Lija), Kailey Willis (Hellas Verona – Italy).

FIXTURES

Cyprus vs Malta – February 17, 11am (Malta time).

Cyprus vs Malta – February 19, 3pm (Malta time).