Malta debut excites Striz

Malta are geared up for their debut on the competitive international futsal stage after learning their opposition in the 2007 UEFA European Futsal Championship preliminary round.

Experienced coach
One of two debutants in the tournament, along with Turkey, Malta will host Group C in Paola and now know they will take on Cyprus, Georgia and Kazakhstan in mid-January. The Malta Football Association (MFA) have appointed a new coach in the form of the experienced Michal Striz, who led the Czech Republic team between 1998 and 2005. He was voted the best Czech futsal coach every year from 1998 to 2004, including in 2003 when he led the team to third place at the European Championship.

Striz reaction
Striz told uefa.com: "I think we can do well against Cyprus, Georgia and Kazakhstan. We will be playing our matches here in Malta, so I am happy about this. I am very glad that the Malta Football Association has appointed me as the national futsal team coach. I endeavour to pass on all my experience in the futsal field to my 'new-born baby'." If Malta win the group, Striz will face his home nation in qualifying round Group 5 along with hosts Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. The two best preliminary round runners-up will also progress, and will play in either Spain or the Netherlands.

Malta plan
The entry to the continental competition and the appointment of Striz are part of the MFA's plan to strengthen futsal and particularly coach education, the policy led by vice-president John Farrugia, chairman of the Malta Futsal Committee. The new futsal league season on the island kicks off next week with 64 teams in four divisions. Fourteen teams are divided into two sections in the first division and another 14 sides similarly split in the second division. The third division has 18 teams in three groups and 18 new clubs have entered the three fourth division pools.