Malta will be taking part with two teams in this year’s European Championship being held in Ghent, Belgium, between 25 February and 5 March.

Malta will be missing Alex Borg who will be taking part in the world championship qualifiers, as well as Guzi Grech, who is now 51 years old and has decided not to take part.

Taking their place in the national team will be Duncan Bezzina and Clint Grima, the latter making his debut.

This will be the fourth European Championship with Malta having won the first two editions in 2004 and 2005. Last year, the Malta team was eliminated in the semi-final stages.

Seventeen countries will be taking part this year. Malta is in Group D along with Belgium, France, Iceland and Finland.

In the Masters tournament, Tony Mifsud and Frans Mintoff will be taking part, as they did last year. In last year’s event, they had reached the semi-final stages. For Mifsud, it is the 13th time that he is taking part in such a tournament. The Malta team is in Group A together with Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands and Iceland.

International referee Paul Galea will control several matches in these championships. He will also be the delegate representing the MBSA and the head of the Maltese delegation.

The Opening Ceremony is to be held on Saturday at the Holiday Inn, where the Closing Ceremony will also be held on 2 March. The Maltese contingent leaves tomorrow at 4pm.