Coach Rosler praises Malta striker in Kicker interview

Michael Mifsud has received a myriad of compliments so far in his career but perhaps the most significant of all was delivered a few days ago by none other than Uwe Rosler, the Lillestrom coach.

The speedy Malta striker has been making the most of his time in the Norwegian top-flight since joining Lillestrom, one of the most prominent clubs in Scandinavia, from Malta champions Sliema Wanderers in the summer of last year.

Acknowledgement for his positive impact on the Norwegian league was given by Rosler who, in a long interview with Kicker, the popular German football publication, was fulsome in his praise for the 24-year-old forward.

Kicker put the following question to Rosler: "Ex-Kaiserslautern player Michael Mifsud is regarded as the best foreign player in the Norwegian league. Has he developed so much lately or does that say something about the level of the league there?"

Rosler replied: "The standard of the league here is lower than the Bundesliga.

"But Mifsud has come a long way, profiting from the fact that we no longer play kick and rush football. With his pace and agility, he is poison for big defenders. He is very sharp. I fear that we cannot hold on to him."

Since bursting onto the scene as a young, quicksilver striker with the Wanderers when he was only 16, Mifsud has always been hailed as Malta's most promising football prospect. His spell with Kaiserslautern justified the lofty expectations about Mifsud but his return to Maltese football early last year was seen as a backward step for his career.

Scorer of 11 goals in 39 appearances for Malta, Mifsud played an important part in Sliema's title triumph in season 2003-2004 before he grabbed an offer to play in Norway.

News of Mifsud's switch to Lillestrom sparked mixed reactions with cynics doubting whether his career will benefit from his participation in an unglamorous league such as that in Norway.

Vindicated

Yet, Rosler's comments on Mifsud and his status as the best foreign player in the Norwegian league go some way towards vindicating his decision to leave the Premier League.

Having initially opined that a spell in the Norwegian league constituted a better chance for him to capture the attention of other bigger clubs on the continent, Mifsud told The Times yesterday that he is delighted that things have worked out well for him so far.

"Firstly, I am delighted to earn recognition from the Norwegian media as the best foreign player in the top league," he said.

"I am happy not only from a personal viewpoint but also because my reputation here is also good for the image of Maltese football.

"I view these comments as just reward for my determination to do well and overcome all the difficulties that come with living in a foreign country, away from the family."

Rosler's opinion is understandably music to Mifsud's ears.

"Rosler is a young coach and this is his first big experience in charge of a big club," Mifsud remarked.

"I have a good rapport with him and his nice comments in that Kicker interview show that he appreciates my contribution to the team."

This season, Mifsud has scored nine goals for Lillestrom, six in the league and three in the cup competition. Rosler predicts greater things for Mifsud in the future but the Malta striker is in no rush to leave Lillestrom, currently sixth in the Norwegian Royal League with 21 points from 13 games.

"I have another 18 months remaining on my contract with Lillestrom," he said.

"I am not thinking about a move at the moment because I'm enjoying my time with them."