Vella names 20-strong squad for Italy assignments

A useful test awaits the Malta Under-17 squad in the annual Trofeo Nereo Rocco between the 19th and 25th September, 2017. The 32nd edition of this prestigious tournament has attracted the participation of a host of youth teams from renowned clubs, including AC Milan, Crvena zvezda (Red Star), Udinese, Atalanta and Empoli. Silvio Vella, the Malta U-17 coach, has named a 20-strong squad for the week-long tournament, being played in the Italian town of Gradisca d’Isonzo. Several players selected by Vella for this trip were part of the squad that featured in the UEFA Youth U-16 Development Tournament, staged in Malta last February. The Maltese youngsters finished second out of four teams. The Maltese contingent were due to travel to Italy later on Monday ahead of their opening Group D match against Venezia on Tuesday at 19.00. On Wednesday, the Malta U-17 team face Croatian team HNK Rijeka (15.00) before wrapping up their group commitments against the youth side of Serie A club Torino on Thursday at 18.00. The Malta U-17s’ participation in the Trofeo Nereo Rocco is part of their build-up for the UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualifying round commitments between October 26 and November 1. Vella’s team have been drawn in Group 1 along with Belgium, Northern Ireland and Switzerland. MALTA UNDER-17 SQUAD Goalkeepers: Amara Sylla (Birkirkara); Ryan Vella (Hibernians); Andrea Spiteri (Valletta).Defenders: Christian Gauci (San Ġwann); Shaun Dimech (Valletta); Jake Ghio (Pietà Hotspurs); Liam McKay (Pietà Hotspurs); Glenn Attard (Birkirkara).Midfielders: Jamie Sixsmith (St Andrews); Sheldon Pisani (Pietà Hotspurs); Matthew Portelli (Hibernians); Bradley Sciberras (Floriana); Ryan Tonna (Valletta); Ethan Lethridge (Birkirkara); Sebastian Grech (Birkirkara); Karl Mohnani (Melita).Forwards: Paul Mbong (Birkirkara); Russel Vella (Ħamrun Spartans); Ryan Vella (Hibernians); Alexander Satariano (St Andrews).