Manuela Tesse has named an initial 29-player squad as the Malta women launch their preparations for their friendly match against Estonia, pencilled for April 7 (kick-off: 6pm).
Ranked 87th, the local-based players will gather together this Thursday for their first training session before the players plying their trade abroad will join the team next week.
Tesse will trim the squad to 22 players later on as the Maltese side will fly to Estonia on Wednesday, April 5.
The Italian coach has selected a majority of the players that were picked during the February international window, including forwards Haley Bugeja, Kailey Willis and Jade Flask who scored in the Luxembourg double-header friendlies.
Birkirkara, who are on the brink of an 11th domestic title, are represented by 8 players.
Estonia are ranked 95th following the latest FIFA rankings published this month.
SQUAD
GOALKEEPERS
Giulia D’Antuono (Raiders Lija), Patricia Ebejer (Mġarr United), Janice Xuereb (Birkirkara).
DEFENDERS
Rebecca Bajada (Mġarr United), Maia Debono (Mġarr United), Jessica Dimech (Swieqi United), Stephania Farrugia (Birkirkara), Emma Lipman (Como Women, Italy), Valentina Rapa (Birkirkara), Ann-Marie Said (Birkirkara), Jade Schembri (Swieqi United), Emma Xuereb (Swieqi United) Charlene Zammit (Birkirkara).
MIDFIELDERS
Brenda Borg (Mġarr United), Martina Borg (Hibernians), Rachel Cuschieri (Sampdoria, Italy), Veronique Mifsud (Birkirkara), Nicole Sciberras (Hibernians), Dorianne Theuma (Swieqi United), Gabriella Zahra (Birkirkara), Shona Zammit (Swieqi United).
FORWARDS
Leah Ayres (Raiders Lija), Haley Bugeja (Orlando Pride, USA), Maria Farrugia (Durham Women, England), Jade Flask (Swieqi United), Raina Giusti (Birkirkara), Mariah Sciberras (Swieqi United), Alishia Sultana (Birkirkara), Kailey Willis (Chievo Verona, Italy).
Photo: Mark Zammit Cordina/Malta FA.
