by Swieqi United will be debuting in the UEFA Women’s Champions League this Wednesday. A team built on a mix of experience and youth, Tammy Falzon will be one of several youngsters debuting on the stage. Having consecutively risen to face bigger challenges in the past years, Falzon is relishing the chance to battle against new opposition while nodding to the experience backing her for the upcoming challenge.
Next Challenge
Swieqi United are on their path for a European debut this Wednesday where they will meet Moldovan champions Agarista with the hope of making it to Saturday’s final.
Although still on the precipice of going into her twenties, Tammy Falzon is a defender who in the past three years has made huge strides in development, ultimately contributing to Swieqi United’s rise and maiden titles in each domestic competition in Malta.
Although the UEFA Women’s Champions League will bring completely new opposition, Tammy Falzon feels the gradual transition from the youth league, into an-ever-changing senior league roster of opposing players is a good foundation for the newness she faces in the upcoming week.
In fact, questioned whether she believes these transitions give her confidence for the challenge ahead, Falzon weighed in, “I think every game brings with it new challenges. It’s true that most teams in the Maltese league are bringing in foreign players and so they bring different levels of intensity, physicality and technique. So, I do believe that this has trained me to bring my best game in every match and to expect everything, irrespective what competition I am playing in.”
However, the youngster extended this beyond matches themselves, noting that this is also a case of mentality built in training, “This is the philosophy I also have in training with the team (Swieqi) and even when training at national level. So, I am approaching this competition with the same mentality, because in truth I’ve always faced players ready to bring their best game.”
Surrounded By Experience
There will be plenty of debutants in the competition, with Swieqi having a young squad that like Tammy Falzon are looking to make their mark in the matches ahead. However, there is also a balance of experience around them in the team, as well as in a coaching staff that has experienced the European stage in the past, as former players and coaches.
Falzon hailed the impact of this on her preparations, “I think having a coach (Dorianne Theuma) who was a player for all those years and who was also our captain before becoming our coach helps a lot, because there’s a very strong relationship. However, she’s also very clear on the differences in the responsibility as a coach and where to draw the line. So, I think it’s clear she knows what is needed from her as a coach to prepare us and I think the same can be said for all the coaching staff who are with us.”
However, the youngster nodded to the consistency in preparation that extends into a much longer pathway than this particular preparation for the upcoming tournament on the European stage.
She continued, “I would say that they’ve always been pushing us to get better, both last season and the same this year. We’re fitter than ever and much better prepared for different situations in matches. So, I believe that this approach led us to the success last year and I feel this gives me confidence for the upcoming challenge.”
Swieqi United will be taking to the pitch at Myjava Stadium on Wednesday at 11:00. The team will be facing Agarista-ȘS Anenii Noi. The winner will proceed to Saturday’s final, which they will play against the winner between hosts Spartak Myjava and ZFK Buducnost, which will be played later in the day at 19:00.
Lead Image: Michael Azzopardi (Swieqi United)
Stay up to date by following The Sporting Fan on social media: Instagram ~ Facebook ~ X
