Chetcuti out of equation for match against Iceland

Horst Heese's difficulties in the lead-up to Malta's World Cup double header at home to Iceland on Saturday and away to Bulgaria the following Wednesday, show no signs of abating.

Heese, under mounting pressure to steer Malta to a positive result after an embarrassing 7-0 upset to Sweden in their opening World Cup 2006 Group Eight qualifier last month, must make do without experienced defender Jeffrey Chetcuti for Saturday's match at the National Stadium (kick-off: 6.15 p.m.).

Chetcuti, 30, was not on the 20-man list issued yesterday by Heese and assistant coach Carmel Busuttil ahead of the clash with Iceland.

According to Ivan Vella, the national teams' secretary, Chetcuti has not trained regularly at Ta' Qali over the last few weeks because of work commitments.

Although the Sliema defender is out of the equation for Saturday's qualifier, he remains on standby for the away assignment against Bulgaria.

Chetcuti, who also missed the opening defeat to Sweden, told The Times yesterday that he has had talks with Heese regarding his position vis-a-vis the national team.

"Present circumstances have made it imperative for me to give precedence to my job," Chetcuti said.

"Over the last few weeks, I have been unable to attend training with the national squad as much as I would have liked but I cannot do otherwise.

"I explained my position in a meeting I had with the national coach recently and the outcome was that I will not be in the squad for the next qualifier against Iceland.

"However, I have been assured that I still figure in the coach's plans and my absence from the Iceland game does not in any way mean that I have lost my place in the national squad," Chetcuti added.

Having started a new job recently, Kevin Sammut, the Msida St Joseph midfielder, also missed some training sessions of late and subsequently failed to earn a place in Malta's 20-man squad.

Birkirkara powerhouse William Camenzuli, seldom called upon for international duty by Heese, has also been dropped.

Heese's 20-man list will be trimmed to 18 before the squad's departure to Bulgaria early Monday morning.

Also out of the picture for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers are Hibernians goalkeeper Mario Muscat and club-mate Antoine Zahra together with Sliema skipper Noel Turner and Msida's Daniel Theuma. These four players were ditched from the national squad last month.

The absence of a clutch of seasoned players leaves Valletta skipper Gilbert Agius (77 caps) and Brian Said (51 caps), the Sliema defender, as the most experienced elements in the Maltese squad. At a news conference held earlier this week, Heese named Agius as Malta's new captain.

Luke Dimech, on the books of English club Mansfield Town, and Michael Mifsud, now with Lillestrom of Norway, are the only foreign-based players in Malta's squad.

Adrian Pulis, the Hibs lanky defender, and Birkirkara goalkeeper Justin Haber have kept their slots and will be hoping to take their international bow in one of the next two qualifiers.

Malta's 20-man squad...

Goalkeepers: Saviour Darmanin (Pietà Hotspurs); Justin Haber (Birkirkara).

Defenders: Ian Azzopardi, Ian Ciantar, Steve Wellman (all Floriana); Roderick Briffa (Birkirkara); Luke Dimech (Mansfield Town); Adrian Pulis (Hibernians); Brian Said (Sliema Wanderers).

Midfielders: Gilbert Agius (Valletta); Stefan Giglio, Claude Mattocks (both Sliema W.); George Mallia, Antoine Zahra (both Birkirkara); Peter Pullicino (Hibernians); Ivan Woods (Pietà Hotspurs).

Forwards: Etienne Barbara (Marsaxlokk); Andrew Cohen (Hibernians); Michael Galea (Birkirkara); Michael Mifsud (Lillestrom).