Malta squad leave for Austria training camp on Saturday

The national squad will head to Austria this Saturday for a seven-day training camp as part of their preparations for the inaugural UEFA Nations League, kicking off in September. During their stay in Austria, the Maltese team, under the guidance of new coach Ray Farrugia, will play two friendly matches – against Armenia on May 29 in Wattens and Georgia on June 1 in Schwaz. Dr Angelo Chetcuti, the Malta FA General Secretary, gave an update on the national team’s preparations during a meeting of the Association’s Council, held on Tuesday at the Hotel Le Meridien. The Malta squad are now in the second week of their training programme devised by Farrugia and his coaching team, namely assistant coach Branko Nisevic, technical assistant Ronald Vella, physical trainer Luca Pagani and Charles Sciberras, the goalkeepers’ coach. Norman Darmanin Demajo, the President of the Malta FA, stressed that the Association is leaving no stone unturned in its efforts to create the best conditions for the national team to prepare for their UEFA Nations League commitments in the best way possible. “We are investing heavily in our national squad,” Darmanin Demajo said. “For the UEFA Nations League trips to the Faroe Islands, Kosovo and Azerbaijan, we are organising chartered flights for our national squad “This is being done to further boost the team’s preparations as it will drastically reduce the travel time and the physical toll it has on the players.” Furthermore, the dressing room of the senior squad is undergoing a major renovation with works due to be completed before the start of Malta’s commitments in Group D3 of the UEFA Nations League in the first week of September. At Tuesday’s Council Meeting, Malta FA officials also announced that an amicable settlment has been reached with Belgian Tom Saintfiet over the termination of his contract as Malta coach.