Both the national team and the Under-21 selection will try to finish their commitments on a top note when they face Bulgaria in their last matches next week.

During a press conference held yesterday, both coaches expressed their wish and determination to continue on the recent good showing against Croatia and try to improve on that.

National coach Horst Heese said that this match will be the most difficult because it is the match that follows a good showing and a good result. Heese stated that the Maltese public will be expecting the same or even better against Bulgaria.

Heese said that we have to be on the alert and avoid mistakes because the Bulgarian team is a solid one and hard to beat. Moreover they are not under pressure and have nothing to lose, and most probably they will have many new faces in their side.

He stressed that this is a handicap for us because these new faces will be more than eager to show their worth and gain a regular place in the future.

As for the Malta team Heese stated that he is very satisfied with the preparation being carried out, and hopes to recover some of the injured players. As for Gilbert Agius Heese said that the Valletta captain will be definitely out of the game, whilst Chester defender Luke Dimech will make a welcome return following talks between the player and Heese.

The match will kick off at 7pm next Wednesday and will be controlled by Vitaliy Godulyan from Ukraine.

Captain Brian Said said that the players have a high morale and are eager to repeat the good showing against Croatia, hopefully with another good result. He said that the players are well aware that the match is not an easy one, as Bulgaria are potentially a strong side.

Brian Said finished by saying that he hopes that the injured players will be recovered in time for the match.

Even the U-21 side has a long list of injured players as was confirmed by coach Mark Miller. However he said he was confident his side can play a good game against Bulgaria, and even obtain a good result.

He insisted that the Malta side played two very good games in the last two outings and with some luck could have even obtained positive results. He said that the Maltese players have to avoid stupid mistakes, which are proving to be the downfall of the team.

Gabriele Rossi of San Marino will be in charge of the match at 7pm next Tuesday.

The MFA President Joe Mifsud said that Malta can still avoid the bottom place in the group if we Bulgaria. He said that is difficult but nothing is impossible. He said that around four hundred Bulgarians will come over for the match, and stricter security measures will be enforced at the National Stadium, especially following the sad incidents caused by the Croatian hooligans.

Joe Mifsud said that one hour before the match there will be live entertainment, and stated that the prices are being kept as low as possible to attract larger crowds to the stadium, as the team wants more support.

Regarding the Under-21 selection, Joe Mifsud said that this will be the last match in this format, as the final phase of the Under-21 category will be held every two years, interleaving between the World Cup and the European Championship.

In the second part of his talk Joe Mifsud said that he was pleased to announce the installation of 35 new mini pitches all over the island. This is a program financed by UEFA, to provide sporting facilities to children. In fact in these mini pitches, the use of which will be free of charge, other sport apart from football can be played.

The MFA reached agreements with clubs and even local councils, about the installation of such pitches. Nine from the 35 pitches will be in Gozo, with capital Victoria, as the only locality with two pitches.

The company supplying these mini-pitches is Aaba Homegrounds Ltd from Finland. Their managing director Jesperi Loponen gave a presentation about these mini-pitches, with artificial turf of the latest technology. All works will be carried out under the supervision of MFA vice-president Ludovico Micallef.

Loponen said that following the completion of the works, Malta will have the highest density of pitches in the world. Works will hopefully start next December and the completion target date is December 2006.