Tesse’s Twenty-Three To Face Bosnia & Herzegovina Amid Dorianne Theuma’s Final Bow

Malta’s Women’s National Team is gearing up for a double-header against Bosnia & Herzegovina, starting this Friday at the Centenary Stadium. Manuela Tesse is rallying her troops toward strong performances in search of continuing on the strong start in League B and giving a fitting send-off to one of Malta’s finest female footballers.

A Crucial Double-Header

Malta’s Women’s National Team is walking into a double-header against Bosnia & Herzegovina that will continue to shape their trajectory in League B. The first fixture will be played at the Centenary Stadium this Friday (KO 19:30), followed by a reverse fixture at the FF BH Football Training Centre, Zenica on Tuesday 4th June (KO 16:00). Both matches will be broadcast live.

The Maltese team heads into the fixtures with one point in the bag following their opening stalemate in the Northern Ireland, while Bosnia & Herzegovina seek their first points. As the teams cross the half-way point in these qualifications, six points could spell huge swings in the group. This, while keeping an eye on Portugal and the Northern Ireland who complete the group.

Malta’s Manuela Tesse suggested that the selection is not dependent on facing the same team twice in a few days. “Unfortunately we cannot choose the players on the basis of the opponent that we face. We do not have this opportunity in Malta. My staff and I chose the players we think are the best in this moment.”

A Final Bow For Dorianne Theuma As Team Seeks More Positive Records

The selection will feature Dorianne Theuma for one final time, with the player expected to truly wrap up her career this Friday. The veteran is the only player to have played all previous nine meets between the two nations, having also scored Malta’s first ever goal against Bosnia & Herzegovina in 2006.

Manuela Tesse paid homage to Malta’s most capped player and leading national team goal-scorer, “The home game against Bosnia & Herzegovina is very important not only for the EURO Qualification, but also to celebrate the most important player in the women’s football in Malta.”

Asked about the relevance of having a player of Dorianne Theuma’s experience in the team, as well as the legacy that she will leave behind, Tesse remarked, “During the period that I have been here, Dorianne Theuma has inspired me as a coach with her attitude and her behaviour. She was always available to help me and her teammates. All Maltese players should keep Dorianne as an example.”

The Italian finished by rallying the troops, “I hope that Friday night the team will play a good game, to achieve a positive result and to celebrate Dorianne in the right way. I would like the team to perform well because it will make for a special day, that no one will forget in their life, especially Dorianne.”

Indeed a victory against Bosnia & Herzegovina would mark a maiden one for Malta against the nation on the tenth meet, a maiden victory in League B, as well as a fitting send-off for the last active national team player from the ones that made the first debut in 2003.

Twenty-Three Facing Bosnia & Herzegovina

It will mark the first Qualification fixture in Tesse’s tenure without Janice Xuereb in the goalkeeping selection, as she recovers from the ACL injury suffered against Portugal in the previous fixture with Malta. Faith has been placed in Como’s Maya Cachia and Mgarr United’s Patricia Ebejer to protect Malta’s goal.

Manuela Tesse noted the responsibility awaiting the two, but showed trust in the duo, “It will be the moment to take this opportunity to show their strength. It won’t be easy for sure because they have a big responsibility filling in for Janice. However, we trust in our goalkeepers and we will help them in this journey.”

There are plenty of known faces in defence, with captain Emma Lipman, continuing to be surrounded by Birkirkara’s Stephania Farrugia, Valentina Rapa, Ann-Marie Said and Charlene Zammit. However, there is a return for Mgarr United’s Rebecca Bajada & Maia Debono. Tesse welcomed the duo, “Rebecca was very unlucky during the last games as she was injured every time. The same can be said for Maia. They are in good shape now and I think they can help us to have more solutions in the defensive department.”

Meanwhile, the midfield unit shows little changes. Dorianne Theuma makes the selection for one final time as the veteran prepares to hang up her boots. She is joined by Rachel Cuschieri (Sampdoria), Brenda Borg (Mgarr United), Shona Zammit (Swieqi United) and Nicole Sciberras (Hibernians) who have been heavily involved in the past matches. Birkirkara’s duo Gabriella Zahra and Veronique Mifsud complete the unit.

There is one new addition in attack as Sara Saliba receives her first senior call-up. Coach Manuela Tesse addressed the call-up as an opportunity for the youngster, “I think it is the right moment to bring her in senior national team and give her this experience, because in this moment we don’t have commitments with the youth national team.”

She will be in the company of several other young players who took on such opportunities a few years ago and continue to be pushing forward, including Haley Bugeja (Inter) and Maria Farrugia (Lewes) both of whom have faced this particular foe. Jade Flask (Swieqi United) and Alishia Sultana (Birkirkara) offer more experience against Bosnia & Herzegovina. Kailey Willis (Venezia) and Maya Lucia (Osijek) complete the attacking line-up with Manuela Tesse and her coaching staff hoping they continue to channel their club form into the national team.

The match will be played at the Centenary Stadium, this Friday with kick-off at 19:30. Tickets are available for online purchase.

Lead Image: Lara Schembri

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