Prior to the UEFA Women's EURO 2021Group B qualifying match against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday, captain Dorianne Theuma was presented with a commemorative shirt and cap by Malta FA President Bjorn Vassallo on the occasion of her 100th appearance for the national team - the first Maltese female player to reach this milestone.

The Malta captain has come a long way indeed and has seen Maltese women's football evolve through the years. No one can deny the utmost commitment and sacrifices she and her colleagues indulged in during these years to see women's football gain a very respectable level.

Dorianne Theuma has been there through thick and thin. TMI spoke with the protagonist herself about all this.

"It was never an easy journey at all.  Never thought I would play my 100th game for Malta.  I had the opportunity of seeing women's football develop and grow during these last few years.  Proof of this was our recent 2-1 against Georgia last week followed by the 3-2 home loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina, a football country ranked 61st (both UEFA Women's EURO 2021 qualifiers).  I still remember vividly our playing days on gravel soil at Pace Grasso ground in Paola.  Now women players have the opportunity to play in more modern and well equipped pitches.  As well nurseries have been introduced in many a locality, so all this amplifies the chances that any female footballer has at her disposal in order to make the grade in football.  In my era it was very different - our nursery was made up of playing street football with the boys - the place where I have learnt playing football and shaped me in the person I am today," stated Theuma

Theuma made her debut during Malta's first ever official women's match against Romania on the 10th August 2003, a 3-0 loss.