U21 debut for Gilbert Agius today in Qatar U23 friendly

The Malta U21 team will play Qatar’s U23 Olympic team in an international friendly on Sunday at the Stadium Lucko Zagreb, Croatia (kick-off 18.00). Day three of the training camp in Slovenia for the Malta U21 National Team. New U21 Coach Gilbert Agius has been working tirelessly with his squad of players for the last three days at the team base in Catez. Speaking to www.mfa.com.mton the eve of the first scheduled friendly match against Qatar U23 Olympic team, Coach Gilbert Agius said that the training camp provided an opportunity for his new-look squad to bond together and a fresh experience in a different setting. Asked about his first few weeks with his team, Agius replied, “The first few days were important and fundamental because this a new team, a lot of new players, so it important for us as technical staff to see how the players integrate into the team. “I am pleased, both with the work ethic and behaviour of the players and how they bonded together as a team. The preparations are going as planned and I am very happy with the players commitment.” Asked about the objectives for Sunday’s friendly match, Agius replied, “Our goal is to prepare these youngsters to understand what is expected from them, what Coach Devis Mangia wants from them, so that if one day these players are called up to the national A team, they will know what is expected from them. “The Qatar squad is an U23 Olympic team, which even participated in the U20 World Cup. They are an interesting team with potential. “It is a challenge that will help us to gauge where we currently stand. However, the most important thing is to play our idea of football” Agius concluded.