Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1021976
31 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 2 SEPTEMBER 2018 SPORTS FOOTBALL WARREN ZAMMIT MALTA is coming from a draw and a narrow defeat in their pre- vious two matches. Ray Farru- gia's side held Armenia to a 1-1 draw and suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat at the hands of Georgia. However, apart from the re- sults, veteran defender Andrei Agius believes those matches helped the national team play- ers adapt to Farrugia's mental- ity. "These friendlies surely helped us adapt to the new mentality that coach Ray Farrugia and his stuff are bringing to the national team," he said. "I think that for the Nations League we will keep on building on what we started back in June." When looking at the final squad, it is evident there are a number of senior players like Agius himself, together with other players such as Juan Cor- balan and Joseph Mbong, who are still developing. Agius be- lieves these youngsters should be aided as they are the future of the national team. "Fourteen years ago, I was like Mbong and the fact I was lucky to find people like Mi- chael Mifsud and Gilbert Agius always helped us youngsters to break into the first team," he said. "Now it is my turn to do the same and together with the coaching stuff share my experi- ence and push these youngsters as much as they can because they are the future of Maltese football." Malta will be facing the Faroe Islands away from home and Azerbaijan at Ta' Qali. Faroe Is- lands are currently ranked 90th in the FIFA world rankings, while Azerbaijan are 105th. On the other hand, Malta are cur- rently 184th. Both sides lie well ahead of us and thus start as fa- vourites to claim points against Malta. However, Agius believes otherwise. "I believe that in this tight group we can win and lose against any team, it is up to us to stand out and start climbing up the rankings, the time has come, we need to start winning games." The 32-year-old said that everything relies on the team's mentality and the way the play- ers approach these games. One problem that the national team is faced with is the lack of goals scored. Moreover, Malta's forwards in the squad are all over 30 years of age except for Jean Paul Farrugia. But Agius said this was normal in a na- tional team. "I don't think this is a prob- lem. Other players like Kyrian Nwoko already played for the senior team, so we are very well sorted up front for the future too," he said. "It's just a process which is very normal in a na- tional team." As to his his new contract with Hibernians, which will tie him to the club until 2022, Agius said that forming part of the Paolites was what he always wanted from the day he came back to Malta following his ex- perience abroad. "It was what I wanted from day one when I came back to Malta, to end my career with my hometown club and win as many trophies as possible," he said. "I think I am on the right track on both. In football anything can happen but I thank once again the club, especially Tony Bezzina and his son Rannier, for trusting in my capabilities." Malta will debut in the Na- tions League against Faroe Is- lands on Friday. Three days later the national team will face Azerbaijan at Ta' Qali. Veteran defender Andrei Agius optimistic Malta can win points Ahead of the encounters against Faroe Islands and Azerbaijan, MaltaToday spoke to veteran defender Andrei Agius, who insists Malta is capable of winning points against any side during the UEFA Nations League Baldacchino places second in Mediterranean Championship HARNESS racing driver Noel Baldacchino placed second in the Mediterranean Champi- onship third leg at the Serbian racetrack of Pozirevac. Baldacchino managed to finish in second place with the mare Belle Marguerite behind Italian driver Francesco La Rosa. This means that now after three legs, Italy has gone to the front just half a point ahead of Malta. Everything now depends on the last leg of the champion- ship which will be raced in Syra- cuse on 9th December. HORSE RACING Andrei Agius celebrating with team mates after scoring during the World Cup Qualifier against Lithuania