Uncapped Hibs duo named in Malta's 19-man party

Uncapped Hibernians players Andrew Cohen and Peter Pullicino have been named in Malta's provisional 19-man squad for next week's lucrative friendly match against EURO 2004 finalists Germany.

Cohen, 23, and Pullicino, a 27-year-old defensive midfielder who holds Maltese and Australian citizenship, have been training with the national squad for the past few weeks after their performances for Hibs prompted national coach Horst Heese to rope them in his squad.

The inclusion of several young and inexperienced players in Malta's 19-man list, the likes of Pietà's Cleaven Frendo and Gareth Sciberras, Roderick Bajada, the Hamrun Spartans midfielder, and Floriana defenders Ian Azzopardi and Steve Wellman, underlines Heese's policy to inject new blood into the Maltese team at the expense of members of the old guard.

A notable absentee from the Maltese squad for next Thursday's game at the Dreisam Stadium in Freiburg, is former skipper David Carabott, the country's most representative player with a record 121 international appearances.

The Marsaxlokk captain has fallen behind in the pecking order since Heese and Carmel Busuttil took over the reins of the Maltese team last year. Contacted by The Times yesterday, the 35-year-old right-back announced his intentions to quit international football in Malta's first home game after the Germany friendly.

"I have been thinking long and hard about my international future," Carabott said.

"The Maltese team has been an important part of my life for nearly two decades but I believe the time has come for me to call time on my international career.

Hard decision

"It was not easy to come to this decision but I have now resolved that Malta's first home match after the Germany friendly will be my last for the national team."

Carabott's swansong is likely to occur in Malta's opening World Cup 2006 Group Eight qualifier against Sweden on September 4 unless the MFA line up a home friendly match in the interim.

Marsaxlokk, the FA Trophy finalists who have qualified to take part in the UEFA Cup next season, are not represented in Malta's squad as Etienne Barbara and Richard Buhagiar have also been left out by Heese. Daniel Bogdanovic has also been overlooked for selection despite his positive displays of late.

Sliema Wanderers, winners of a domestic league and cup double, have had five players summoned for international duty, including defender Jeffrey Chetcuti who missed the 2-0 defeat of Marsaxlokk in the FA Trophy final due to knee problems.

The 30-year-old former Valletta stalwart faces a battle against time to prove his fitness before Heese finalises his 18-man squad prior to the contingent's departure to Germany on Monday.

Brian Said, Chetcuti's defensive partner at Sliema, will travel to Germany in high spirits after his wife Yvette gave birth to their first child, a daughter to be given the name of Maya, in the early hours of Wednesday.

Malta, defeated 2-1 at home by Finland in their last friendly outing played on March 31, are currently preparing for the World Cup 2006 Group Eight qualifying matches. Sweden, Croatia, Bulgaria, Iceland and Hungary are the other teams in Group Eight.

In August, the Maltese squad are expected to hold a training camp in Switzerland and will face the Faroe Islands in a friendly match.

For their part, Germany are expected to use Thursday's match against Malta to fine-tune their preparations for their Group D commitments in the EURO 2004 finals, to run between June 12 and July 4 in Portugal.

Germany have been pitted against the Czech Republic, Latvia and the Netherlands.

Malta's provisional squad...

Goalkeepers - Saviour Darmanin (Pietà Hotspurs), Mario Muscat (Hibernians).

Defenders - Ian Azzopardi (Floriana), Jeffrey Chetcuti (Sliema Wanderers), Luke Dimech (Mansfield Town, England), Brian Said (Sliema Wanderers), Steve Wellman (Floriana).

Midfielders - Roderick Bajada (Hamrun Spartans), William Camenzuli (Birkirkara), Cleaven Frendo (Pietà Hotspurs), Stefan Giglio (Sliema Wanderers), Peter Pullicino (Hibernians), Gareth Sciberras (Pietà Hotspurs), Noel Turner (Sliema Wanderers), Antoine Zahra (Birkirkara).

Forwards - Andrew Cohen (Hibernians), Michael Mifsud (Sliema Wanderers), Ivan Woods (Pietà Hotspurs), Antoine Zahra (Hibernians).