New national coach John Buttigieg will be making his debut against Georgia this evening in a friendly match which he has described as very important – like all the other international matches.

His assistant Carmel Busuttil, will also be making his debut on the bench. Both were appointed by the MFA three weeks ago after former coach Dusan Fitzel informed the association he would have to go back home because of health problems. In fact, he is undergoing surgery today and one hopes he will be back to normal as soon as possible. From this column, I wish him a speedy recovery.

Addressing a news conference on the eve of today’s match, Buttigieg said it was not his intention to start rebuilding the squad at this stage. He said: “I do not think it would be fair on the players to start changing and chopping right now. They all have to be given their due chance. After all, I have been in the post for only three weeks. But this match will serve to assess the players and get to know them much better than before.”

It will be a significant outing for our team, which has not yet obtained a point in a difficult World Cup qualifying group.

Buttigieg added that this new post is a big challenge for him, adding that he was, however, facing it with great confidence. He has been encouraged by the attitude and commitment of the players during the training sessions so far. “I am satisfied with their physical condition. The fact that they continued training and playing regularly, both at national team and club level, has helped to keep them in form. However, this may play dirty tricks later in the season. Against Georgia, I want my players to show absolute commitment. Even a friendly is important to me. This will be a good opportunity for all of them to show me that their presence in the squad is justified,” said Buttigieg.

Asked what were the reasons behind the dropping of Luke Dimech and Jonathan Caruana from the squad, Buttigieg said everyone knew that he could only include 18 players. “Others had been dropped before Monday for different reasons,” he said.

Asked whether Luke Dimech had been disciplined, Buttigieg said he would not comment on personal affairs. “What happens in the dressing room is not to be commented upon in the press,” he added.

Asked what he expected from today’s match, Buttigieg said he was well aware that Georgia had given Italy a strong challenge in their World Cup qualifying group. “Every match is difficult, even this friendly. But at home, I feel we must make it more difficult for our opponents. We are aiming for some positive results, especially in our home matches,” he said.

Buttigieg said he also felt that the fact that he had become the first Maltese to be appointed Malta head coach after a long number of years, does not make any difference to the MFA set-up. He added: “Whether it is a Maltese or a foreign coach, we all work for the good of the team. It is not my team. It is the team of all Maltese. However, being Maltese, I must concede we have an advantage because unlike the foreigners, we do not have to spend about six months to get to know the players before eventually commencing work.”

Buttigieg confirmed he had already met some of the top coaches on the island and it seemed certain that they will all be cooperating to get the best out of the national team. He also confirmed that Birkirkara midfielder Shaun Bajada had recovered from an injury suffered four months ago. “Otherwise I would not have selected him in the squad,” he said.

Asked about the ‘foreign’ players, Buttigieg said he was a little worried that Michael Mifsud and Etienne Barbara have no club to play with yet. But with regard to the Maltese Australians, he had received positive feedback and would be making use of them in future, especially in competitive matches.

Missing today’s match are a number of players among them Birkirkara’s George Mallia, Barnsley’s Daniel Bogdanovic, goalkeeper Justin Haber of Sheffield United, Terence Scerri of Valletta and Barbara.

The following is the squad from among whom Buttigieg will be naming his starting line-up today:

Goalkeepers: A. Hogg (Valletta), M. Muscat (Hibs).

Defenders: A. Agius (Cassino), I. Azzopardi (Sliema), A. Muscat (Sliema), B. Said (Marsaxlokk), K. Scicluna (Valletta).

Midfielders: G. Agius (Valletta), S. Bajada (Birkirkara), R. Briffa (Valletta), C. Failla (Sliema), R. Fenech (Sliema), J. Pace (Valletta), K. Sammut (Valletta), A. Cohen (Hibs).

Strikers: M. Mifsud, A. Schembri (SK Kaernten), I. Woods (Sliema).

South End Core

South End Core organiser Louis Agius appealed to the public to give its full support to the Malta team this evening.

He said that the group will be staying at the Millennium Stand for today’s match. Admission fee is euros 5 and that will include one free South End Core jersey (black with Maltese eight-pointed cross), of which it has a limited number in stock.

He said he hoped fans would turn out in a good number to support the side in the hope of seeing it return to goal-scoring form.