WU17 Training Camp: A Peek into Malta’s Future Women’s National Team

New Women’s U-17 head coach Vince Galea has kicked off a training camp with twenty-five players in preparation for the 2023/2024 UEFA Women’s U-17 EURO Qualifications. The Sporting Fan had the opportunity to visit the team during their current training camp and speak with the new coach about his aims for the camp and the long-term objectives.

The Vision for the Future

It is a few minutes past six in the evening when I walk into the St. Joseph ground, in anticipation of seeing first-hand the work being done to prepare Malta’s future National Team squad. There are no players yet in sight as the session is not yet due to start for another hour, but it gives me a chance to speak to the new head coach overseeing this development, Vince Galea.

A few weeks ago, the Women’s Department of the Malta Football Association announced that Vince Galea will be assuming the head coaching role of the U-17 Women’s National Squad. A look at Galea’s resume shows the wealth of experience he brings to the side. Having formed the Kirkop Academy back in 2009, he spent nine years with the club. During this time, he undertook senior coaching roles for both the women’s and men’s teams, whilst also occupying a Director of Coaching role for the women’s team. Following this, Galea had spells with the Lija Nursery and Sliema Wanderers youth nursery where he was the Head of Coaching. The two stints were separated by a time in Sweden with Grythyttans IF.

Vince Galea then joined the Malta Football Association (MFA) as Head Coach of Football Regional Hubs, before settling into a role with the Women’s Department of the MFA as a Technical Coordinator of the Girls Academy, a post which he has held for the past two years. He retains this role, together with the new responsibility of being the head coach of the Women’s National Under-17 side.

I asked the newly appointed coach to describe his view of taking this prestigious role and aims, to which he replied, “It is an exciting new challenge for me as it will be my first time taking over as head coach of a youth national team that has competitive fixtures. In fact, we are awaiting the draws of the UEFA U-17 EURO Qualifications, the fixtures of which will be played in October. At the same time, since this is a young squad, the most important role of the coaching staff is to develop these players so that they can transition as smoothly as possible into the senior national team. In fact, we work closely with the senior national team coach, Manuela Tesse, to ensure this is achieved.”  

Vince Galea is supported by assistant coach Martina Borg, who has recently retired from playing duty with the national team.

Squad Selection

The squad for the training camp features twenty-five players hailing from various clubs around the island. Speaking of this selection coach Galea said, “We have chosen a larger squad size of players born in 2007 and 2008, while also aware that some players are still recovering from last season and so unable to join.”

The selection features three goalkeepers in Erika Muscat (Birkirkara FC), Maya Muscat (Hibernians FC) and Julia Zarb (Mtarfa / Mgarr / Zebbug). In the defensive category, Ilona Abela, Leanne Frendo and Aisha Micallef all play club football with Swieqi United FC. Julia Buhagiar and Cheyenne Mifsud also feature who form part of the Birkirkara FC youth setup, while Amber Galea and Thea Scicluna hail from the Mgarr / Mtarfa / Zebbug squad. Kristina Zammit also forms part of the selection who plays for San Gwann FC.

In midfield, Nilayza Attard (San Gwann FC) features alongside Francesca Bartolo (Raiders FC now Valletta FC Women). They are joined by the Swieqi United duo of Ema Micallef and Kaysia Micallef, as well as Birkirkara’s Stella Francalanza and Amelia Vassallo.

The attacking group features Lara Azzopardi and Maia Gauci from Birkirkara FC, Lisa Calleja (Melita FC), Nyorah Celeste (Hibernians FC), Lexine Farrugia and Suzanne Farrugia Sacco (both Raiders FC), Tea Kimamo (Swieqi United FC) and Thais Muscat (San Gwann FC).

Laying a Foundation

The training camp kicked off on 5^th June and will run until the 22^nd of June. Asked about the objective of these sessions Galea said, “Although we have known these players from our time within the football community, as a new coaching team we are using this camp to get to know the players more closely in preparation for future competitive matches. Additionally, we are also aware that as a group they will have limited time to train with each other during the season since they will only be meeting for national team training during the international window. So, this training camp serves as an opportunity for them to also start building the relationship as a team and for us coaches to start setting a foundation of principles to build on.”

Probed further about the sessions of the training camp Galea said, “Considering that this is being held following the end of a long season, the focus is more on building these foundations rather than pushing them physically. So, it is more about building a philosophy of what we want to do as a team when we are in possession and when we want to win the ball back. This is in preparation for the International Window in September and then the Qualifiers in October.”

Sitting in during the session one could see these words being given life. As the squad transitioned between different drills, the coaching team could be seen in and around the players offering guidance on movement, game intelligence, as well as the more technical attributes within the game. Encouragement of good practices exhibited by the players followed throughout, not just by the coaching team but also by their teammates as they pushed each other in search of improving collectively.

The Bearing of the Selection on the Qualification Matches

Questioned about the chance of other players to form part of the squad for the UEFA U-17 EURO Qualifications, the coach said, “There are players we have in mind who are not within the squad for a reason or another who we will keep in mind. Additionally, as a coaching team will also be keeping tabs on the pre-season held by the clubs as well as the first few games of next season so that then we can then make the squad selection.”  

The UEFA U-17 EURO Qualifications will require further culling of the squad size, which will go down to twenty players, of which two need to be goalkeepers. Speaking of the challenge in making those decisions, Galea referenced the balance needed in selecting a squad that can best deliver the results in that window which is embodied by footballing quality and form, but also character and attitude.

The draw for the UEFA U-17 EURO Qualifications will be held later today.

Photos: Christabelle Tonna