Kaysia Micallef On Breaking Into Swieqi’s Senior Team & Representing Malta

Kaysia Micallef burst into the Assikura Women’s League early in the season, capping off her senior debut with a goal. The sixteen-year-old has since been steadily making her mark, contributing with goals and assists, earning her a start in the Super Cup final in December.

Meanwhile, the left-footed winger has been part of a group of youth players who have been excelling in the Assikura Women’s Youth League and are leading the table with an unbeaten streak this season. Micallef currently tops the Youth League scorers list with 16 goals, but in a highly individualistic world, her responses to this may positively surprise you.

At national team level, Kaysia Micallef formed part of a group who earned a second-place on the return to the UEFA Women’s EURO U17 Qualifications, playing all matches. She, alongside her peers, have returned to the competition on home soil.

The Sporting Fan met with Micallef to discuss her season’s exploits for both club and country.  While the rise might topple a few at her age, Micallef appears have her feet firmly on the ground with a head up towards raising her level. Her responses give insight into a highly analytical mind and a person wildly mature beyond her years.

Eleanor Saliba (ES):  This year you broke into the senior team early on, making your debut in just the team’s second match of the season. What was your reaction to getting selected?

Kaysia Micallef (KM): I was quite surprised when coach Saviour (Darmanin) told me that he was selecting me, it’s like I could not quite believe it initially. However, he showed faith in me and a number of players from my age group early on. In fact, we did the pre-season with the senior team. Seeing the coach have that faith gave me a boost for sure in the game.

ES: In fact, you not only made your debut, but actually scored in it as well. How did that compare to your expectations from the match?

KM: Well, before the match I was quite excited and maybe a bit anxious. Considering that you’re going into a team of players who you never played a real match with, and then also the fact that tactically you don’t know them or the opponent that well, there’s a lot to get used to very quickly in the match. However, in the moment I was just focused on doing my best. I certainly did not imagine that I would score, but the chance came, and I took it. Of course, that gave me an extra confidence boost to keep pushing forward.

ES: Besides steadily earning a more consistent place within the senior team, you are also involved in the Assikura Women’s Youth League (U19). As a team, you are currently unbeaten and you are topping the scorers list with 16 goals. However, you seem like someone who consistently pushes yourself for more. Do you set a target of goals to reach for the season with the team and how does the current season tally to your expectations?

KM: I’m not one to focus on the goals much, I certainly did not think much about trying to be the top-scorer. At the start of the season, I felt that I lacked a bit the composure in front of the net, so this was something that I wanted to improve on throughout the season, to take more chances. I take it very seriously in pushing myself to stay focused in training and try to take the chances in the best possible way. However, before a match I don’t really put pressure on myself to score, I’m more focused on trying to do my best with the team and then if the chance arises, I try to take it.

ES: Having amassed a number of appearances in both the senior and youth teams, how do you compare the experience between the two?

KM: I think I’m still a lot more comfortable in the U19 league than the senior league, in the sense that I feel a bit freer to try things in the Youth League. It’s strange because I’ve gotten more and more matches with the senior team, but I still think there is a bit of a difference for me.

In the U19 league we’ve managed to win all the games so far, so I think that within itself gives more confidence of course, even as a team. In the U19 league, there’s players who are younger than me and also smaller in physicality, so you do feel that difference when you then go into the senior league matches.

In the senior league, there are players who are older so are stronger, faster and more experienced in general. That physicality makes a big difference as well, and foreign players add a different dynamic as well. So there’s a different challenge. I think at my age I’ve been already lucky to have experienced quite a bit. Certainly, it was an honour for me to play with my U19 coach (Dorianne Theuma), knowing everything she’s done in the game.

ES: You had the opportunity to play in the Super Cup final, which although did not go your team’s way, was another big experience and one where you had a direct contribution to your team’s goal. How do you look back on the whole experience?

KM: I could not quite believe it initially when coach Saviour (Darmanin) told me I was going to start the match. I was quite anxious knowing that I was going to be the youngest player on the pitch, but I was ready to take the opportunity. He told me to focus on playing my game and that’s what I did. My parents are always very supportive, but that was a match in which having their support in the lead up to it and having them there as well watching the game, provided a big boost.

In the first few minutes I was trying to calm myself down, because I was excited to get the opportunity. However, then once some time passed, I got ahold of the nerves and was fully immersed in the match, as ultimately happens in every game. We did well in the first half, but then things changed in the second.

ES: We’ve seen you employed on the widths but varying between right and left wing. How easy is it to switch between the two wings for you and is there a side you prefer?

KM: I think if I had to have my way, if I start on one wing it would be better for me to stay there, simply because you sort of have that time to get used to the opponent you’re facing and then can work to be able to win the battles accordingly. The left side is comfortable for me to do certain things since I’m naturally left-footed. However, with time I’ve been getting more playing time on the right wing. It poses a different challenge, but I enjoy it because I can cut inside for the shot better, since it would put me on the left foot. Having said this, most of my goals have come from my right foot, so make of it what you will (laughs).

ES: I’ve seen some trickery from your end, and you seem to love to take players on the dribble. Is this based on maybe a specific idol that you formulated your game toward or is it something you developed over time in the game?

KM: I don’t use skills that much but sometimes throw something in if I’m in the mood for it. I think I started taking players on more with experience in the game. I’m quite fast so before I used to call for the ball to run behind, but over time that gets pretty tiring. So, I thought I need to get used to approaching players and ways of getting past them. So I’ve been developing and trying different ways to get past markers more since.

ES: You also had the opportunity to go to Croatia to represent the U17 Malta National Team, where you got second place in the group. The first match was quite difficult, but then you did much better in the second two. How did you gauge the whole experience?

KM: I think the first match was really difficult against Croatia. They are a big team and it was our first match, so as a team I think we were too excited by the whole thing. I played the three matches but I felt the difference in that match as opposed to the others. I think if we had to play against Croatia a second time, we would get a better result because we’d be calmer and limit them more.

After the first match we wanted to give a response. Against Luxembourg, Nyorah (Celeste) scored, but they drew immediately. However, we kept fighting because we really felt we were really motivated for the win and ultimately Sara (Saliba) got the winner late on. I think that really showed how much we wanted the victory and it was something that Luxembourg’s team acknowledged as well after the match.

ES: What was the major difference that you observed when playing at that level as opposed to domestic level?

KM: Well, I think you can’t really compare anything about Croatia’s team to anything here in Malta. Even their stature, they are tall and physically you can see that they are much stronger. They had that intimidating aspect, and they were keen to show us that they thought they were the top team in the group.

ES: Round 2 is being played in Malta. Considering the form that you are having and the performance of the national team in September, what are your aims in this round for you as a player?

KM: I think it’s always important to take matches seriously and try to put your best foot forward, irrespective of the opponent. We may have beaten Luxembourg in the first round, but I think it is important that we go into the match with the same intensity and not to take it for granted, irrespective of what happened in the first round. They’re going to want to take revenge, so I think it’s important for us to be prepared for that.

Overall, I think in the end it’s irrelevant who scores, what’s important is that we stick together, work for each other and get the best possible result so that we can celebrate together at the end.

Quick Fire Questions:

1. Score or Assist – Score
2. Score with a Volley or Header – Header
3. Country you would like to play football in? – England
4. Night out or night in? – Night Out
5. Toughest tackler that you’ve faced? – Natalee Geren (Hibernians) or Stephania Farrugia (Birkirkara)
6. Eliminate: poor officiation or poor pitches? – Poor Officiation
7. Favourite football player? – David Beckham, active players maybe Phil Foden and Alejandro Garnacho
8. Biggest prankster in the U17 Malta National Team Squad? – Amelia Vassallo, it’s great to have that character in the team
9. First football memory? – I watched a lot of football with my dad, so always liked playing around with a football since I was young, but I think it never occurred to me I could play in a team until my Year 4 teacher told my mum to take me into an actual football team.
10. Dream competition to play in? – UEFA Women’s Champions League, Serie A or Women’s Super League 

Kaysia Micallef is part of the squad selected for the current UEFA Women’s U17 EURO Qualification matches. Malta will compete in their final match on Tuesday 27th at 11 am, at the Centenary Stadium. Those unable to make it to the stands may watch live on TVM Sports+.

The Sporting Fan thanks Kaysia Micallef for taking the time to be able to bring you this feature and look forward to seeing more of her on the pitch.

Lead Image: Michael Azzopardi (Swieqi United)

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