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Hermans eyes improvement in friendlies against N. Ireland

Published: 27-09-2018 11:40
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Malta futsal coach Vic Hermans is confident that the national team will improve in the coming weeks and months after launching their preparations for the FIFA Futsal World Cup qualifiers with two difficult friendly matches against the Netherlands earlier this week. As expected, the Dutch proved too strong for their Maltese counterparts at the National Sports School, winning 7-2 and 8-0, but Hermans sees these test games are part of the learning curve for his players after a long period of inactivity on the international scene. “We played against a very good side,” Hermans, who is in his second spell as Malta futsal coach, said. “Our preparations are still at an early stage and I expect improvement in the coming weeks. “The preparations for the matches against the Netherlands were very short but we are aware of the transition taking place in the futsal sector here in Malta. “We must do our best to get over these two defeats and achieve improvement in the coming matches.” Attention now shifts to the domestic league, kicking off this coming Monday but the national futsal team will be back in action late in October with two friendly games against Northern Ireland on the 26th and 27th of the month. “The friendlies against the Netherlands gave me the opportunity to assess the level of our players,” Hermans added. “I hope that we will achieve better results against Northern Ireland. On paper, the Irish are not as strong as Holland but we must work very hard in the coming weeks to find our best form and be ready for this double test.” Hermans was very pleased with the commitment shown by his players both in training and the games against the Netherlands. He was particularly pleased with the performances of goalkeepers Clint Mifsud (Luxol) and Stefan Vella (Valletta), captain Mark Zammit, and the talent shown by the young players, the likes of Aidan Micallef of Luxol. “If we can help young players like Aidan make further progress, we will reap the benefits of this work in the future,” Hermans said. “We believe in this project undertaken by the Malta FA. There are plans to create an Under-19 team, a women’s selection, and other initiatives to help futsal in Malta grow but it has to be a step-by-step approach. “The games against Northern Ireland in four weeks’ time are next and we are now focusing on our preparations for this double header.” Meanwhile, the 2018-19 Malta FA Futsal League kicks off on Monday and these matches will give Hermans and his staff a better indication of the physical level and form of the Maltese players ahead of the friendlies against Northern Ireland.