Football - Two New faces in Pietro Ghedin’s provisional squad

Malta Independent Tuesday, 29 May 2012, 00:00 Last update: about 14 years ago

Four others make welcome return; Farrugia also names Under 21 squad

National coaches Pietro Ghedin and Ray ‘Zazu’ Farrugia have named provisional squads for the forthcoming commitments of their teams.

The national team is playing a friendly match against Luxembourg on Saturday, while the Under 21s will be playing two European Championship qualifiers against Slovenia on Friday 1 June and against Sweden the following Wednesday (6 June).

Ghedin has named two newcomers in his first selection of 24 players since being appointed coach by the MFA for a second time. He had earlier been Malta coach between 1992 and 1995.

The players are defender Ryan Camilleri of Trophy winners Hibernians and striker Julian Naudi of Melita, who have just won promotion to the Premier League.

Moreover, four others players, Cleavon Frendo and Dyson Falzon, both of Valletta, Joseph Zerafa of Birkirkara and John Mintoff of Sliema have also been named to make a welcome return to the national team squad.

Ghedin is expected to name his final squad of 18 players on Wednesday evening or Thursday morning.

Ghedin’s national team squad:

Goalkeepers: Henry Bonello (Sliema), Justin Haber (Kerkyra FC, Greece), Andrew Hogg (Valletta).

Defenders: Andrei Agius (Latina, Italy), Steve Borg, (Valletta), Ryan Camilleri (Hibernians), Jonathan Caruana (Valletta), Edward Herrera (Hibernians), Alex Muscat (Sliema W.), Joseph Zerafa (Birkirkara).

Midfielders: Edmond Agius (Valletta), Shaun Bajada (Birkirkara), Roderick Briffa (Valletta), Clayton Failla (Hibernians), Dyson Falzon (Valletta), Paul Fenech (Birkirkara), John Mintoff (Sliema W.), Gareth Sciberras (Birkirkara).

Strikers: Daniel Bogdanovic (Blackpool FC, England), Andrew Cohen (Hibernians), Cleavon Frendo (Valletta), Julian Galea (Melita), Michael Mifsud (Valletta) and Andre Schembri (Panionios, Greece).

Farrugia’s Under 21 squad:

Goalkeepers: Daniel Balzan (St Andrew’s), Adrian Parnis (Sannat L.), Steve Sultana (Qormi).

Defenders: Owen Bugeja (Floriana), Yessous Camilleri (Balzan Y.), Matthew Gauci (Hamrun S.), Luca Martinelli (Mosta), Zach Muscat (Pieta H.).

Midfielders: Jonathan Bajada (Mosta), Clyde Borg (Mosta), Triston Caruana (Qormi), Bjorn Kristensen (Hibernians), Rowen Muscat (Birkirkara), Mark Scerri (Sliema W.), Ryan Scicluna (Birkirkara).

Strikers: Jean Paul Farrugia (Marsaxlokk FC), Leighton Grech (Vittoriosa S.), Miguel Ciantar (Balzan Y.), Steve Pisani (Hibernians), Terence Vella (Mosta).