No Rest For The Wicked – Malta’s Youths On Back To Back Tournaments

Malta‘s Women’s U16 National Team wrapped up commitments in the UEFA Women’s U16 Development Tournament on Sunday with three straight defeats. Twelve of twenty players and the coaching staff immediately set off for the UEFA Women’s U17 European Championships to begin tomorrow. Coach Clint Tabone discussed the positives and challenges of the situation for players and staff.

Wrapping Up The U16 Development Tournament

Malta’s Clint Tabone led the U16 Women’s National Team in the UEFA Women’s Development Tournament held in Malta last week, that culminated on Sunday. The team faced plenty of hurdles with a lot to mull following three straight defeats at the hands of Ghana (8 – 1), Latvia (2-1) and Northern Ireland (3 – 0).

Clint Tabone discussed the main outcomes from it, “The Development Tournament was a tough challenge, with our team facing three strong opponents, especially in the first game against Ghana. The main takeaways were the importance of handling pressure, improving defensive organisation, and maintaining focus throughout the game. We also identified areas to work on, such as ball retention and movement off the ball.”

The Maltese coach felt it was undeserved that the team came away without a positive result, “We learned a lot from this tournament, particularly from our best performance against Latvia, where the result felt unfair given that we were the better team throughout the match.”

However, he was upbeat about the attitude from his players, “Despite the challenges, the players showed great resilience and learned valuable lessons that will help them grow and improve for future matches.”

There will be no time to rest for the majority of the technical staff, as well as twelve of the twenty players, who formed part of both the U16 and are now part of the U17 group heading to Azerbaijan for the UEFA Women’s European Championship Round 2. They will face Bulgaria tomorrow at 08:00 CET, Luxembourg on Saturday 15th at 08:00 CET, before wrapping up against hosts Azerbaijan on the 18th at 10:00 CET.

Clint Tabone discussed the reality of facing the two back-to-back tournaments. “Heading straight into another U17 tournament with several players from the previous setup has both positives and challenges. On the positive side, it allows us to build on the momentum and experience gained in the last tournament. The players already have a strong understanding of each other, which strengthens team chemistry and tactical consistency. Having just competed at a high level, they are also in match rhythm and can immediately apply the lessons learned.”

Considering the challenges, he continued, “Physical and mental fatigue is a concern, as back-to-back tournaments leave little time for recovery. This increases the risk of injuries, making rotation and player management crucial. Additionally, with limited time between tournaments, we need to be efficient in making tactical adjustments. Another key challenge is that some players are currently preparing for exams, which can affect them mentally and impact their focus on the pitch.”

However, he summed up these things as an opportunity to rise to the challenge “Overall, while it’s a demanding schedule, it’s also an opportunity for the team to grow, adapt, and build resilience.”

Selection For The U17 Tournament & Opponent Expectations

The U17 selection features two goalkeepers in Maya Muscat (Hibernians) and Julia Zarb (SK Lija).

The defence features a line-up that is entirely carried through from the U16 tournament in Amy Bello Catania (Hibernians FC), Kesia Farrugia (SK Lija), Jade Galea (Hibernians FC), Edeson Grixti (Hibernians FC), Amy Portelli (Swieqi United) and Krista Sacco (Birkirkara FC).

In midfield, Danicia Ciantar (Valletta FC), Shaiel Falzon (Swieqi United), Thais Muscat (San Gwann FC) and Shanaya Zammit Farrugia (Birkirkara FC) are the new additions. They join four players who also competed in the U16 tournament in Amberley Borg (SK Lija), Erika Cini (SK Lija), Alanah Ghio (Hibernians FC) and Nina-Lee Naudi (U.C. Sampdoria – ITA). Having said this, the latter is in doubt following an injury sustained against Northern Ireland on Sunday.

The attack features two new additions in Lisa Calleja (SK Lija) and Mariah Micallef (Birkirkara FC), who join Lara Micallef (Hibernians FC) and Shanaia Mifsud (Valletta FC).

Clint Tabone believes the three opponents will bring new challenges, with sight set on further experiences gained for the team.

He concluded, “Facing tough opponents again like Bulgaria, Luxembourg and Azerbaijan is always a great challenge. We need to stay focused. We understand the strength of our opponents and are prepared to give our best effort on the field. Every match is an opportunity to learn and improve, and we’re ready to face whatever comes our way. For sure this will be a great experience and opportunity for our young players.”

Lead Image: Malta FA

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