Malta’s competitive trek on the global stage is due to commence in less than five weeks’ time when our team is scheduled to play its first 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group B qualifying match against Armenia on Friday 7 September at the National Stadium, Ta’ Qali.

That will be followed on Tuesday 11 September by the much awaited away confrontation against Italy, one of the favourites to proceed to the competition finals. As a preparatory dress rehearsal to these matches Malta is due to face San Marino in a friendly encounter next week.

In view of these important commitments national team coach Pietro Ghedin, who took up his appointment as Malta’s mentor earlier this year, resumed preparation for his team, this time on a more intensive scale after the short summer break.

More physical tuning will be followed by technical and tactical drilling, phases which should be backed by psychological preparation.

The process of squad selection should eventually also be fined-tuned and based on the players’ form. To this end and in view of the first match against San Marino the national coach has prepared a full training schedule which comprises daily sessions.

The programme which commenced yesterday at the Ta’ Qali training grounds, includes daily sessions till next Saturday.

Departure to Bologna, via Rome will be on Sunday 12 August. The team will be back on Wednesday 15 August after which training will continue.